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THE 

HISTORY AND DIRECTORY 



CONTAINING ITS 

ANTIQUITIES, 



MODERN SURVEY OF ITS IMPROVEMENTS, 

A DESCRIPTION OF ITS 

PUBLIC EDIFICES, 

AND AN 

Enumeration of its local and commercial 

Advantages, 

WITH 

FORMS OF APPOINTMENT, 

AND OTHEil HIGHLY INTERESTING MISCELLANEOUS 
ARTICLES, 

TO WHICH IS ADDED 

A CORRECT ACCOUNT 

of the . • . , '.,''',■; ' ; ' 

TRIAL 

Between the Borough and Foreign, frc, £fc. 



BY THOS. PEARCE. 



BIRMINGHAM: 

PRINTED BY THOMSON AND WR1GHTSOJT, NEW-STREET, 

ANB SOLD BY THEM, AND BY F M1LWARD, AND VALENTINE 

AND THKOSBY, WALSALL. 



O^Tg 



'OS, 



4* 



^*.»* 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



It having been part of my duty to take 
the population of this town twice, agreeable 
to acts of parliament for that purpose, and 
finding that the number of inhabitants exceed- 
ed eleven thousand, I felt strongly inclined, as 
well as being much encouraged thereto by my 
friends, to publish a Directory of the names 
of the principal inhabitants of the parish, 
and also their various trades, — the utility 
of which must be obvious to the manufac- 
turer, and to the commercial part of the 
community; the additional account of con- 
veyances of all descriptions, and other matter 
contained in this publication, particularly as 
a book of record and reference, will, I trust, 
be found a useful source of information. It 
also occurred to me desirable to mingle plea- 
sure with utility ; or, in addition to informal ion 
which could only be interesting to persons 
in trade, to give a short, but sufficiently explicit^ 
account of the history of Walsall, of it* public 



IV 

buildings and charities, and of other things 
connected with the town or inhabitants : this 
had already been done by that learned and 
indefatigable historian of this county, the 
late Rev. S. Shaw, B. D. F. A. S. ; but as 
his book is within the reach of very few^ I 
have extracted from his history, that part 
which relates to this parish, making some 
trifling alterations, rendered necessary by the 
lapse of time, and adding such farther infor- 
mation as I have been able to collect in the 
course of twenty-four years, spent in the dis- 
charge of the most public parochial duties. 
Influenced solely by a desire to consult the 
convenience and add to the pleasure of the 
numerous inhabitants of this parish, I commit 
my book to their candour and liberality ; 
assured that they will be exercised, whenever 
the intention is good, however defective may 
be the execution. 

THOMAS PEARCE, 



/ 



CONTENTS. 



ons 



History and Antiquities of Walsall 
Moseley's Dole .... 

Anecdotes of Characters .... 

Church .... ...• 

List of Vicars .... .... 

Inscriptions on Bells .... 

Paintings, Arms, and Inscript 

Charitable Gifts 

Gifts to the Charity School 

Bloxwich .... .... 

The Chapel 

Shelfield • 

Bescot .... .... .... 

Charter of the Corporation 
Churchwardens of Walsall . . 
Overseers of the Poor .... 

Curates . . .... .... 

Organists .... , . . • 

Mayors . . .... .... 

Recorders ...» .... 

Magistrates .... .... 

Town CJejks . . 

Constables .... .... 

Surveyor of Bye Roads 



Page. 

1 

15 

. 26 
30 

. 33 
40 

. 41 
47 
65 
66 

, . 57 
58 

, . ib. 
05 

. . 91 
OS 

. 103 
101 

. 10> 
107 

. ib. 
108 

. ib. 

no 



VI CONTENTS. 

PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. 

Page. 

Bridge-street Chapel . . .... .... Ill 

Old Meeting House 112 

Methodist Chapel 114 

Bioxwich Chapel . . .... .... .... ib. 

Income of Bioxwich Chapel .... .... 115 

Copy of Lease of an Allotment of Land in Essington 

Wood 118 

Baptisms at Bioxwich Chapel. ... .... 122 

Burials at ditto 123 

Methodist Chapel at Bioxwich ib. 

Roman Catholic Chapel at ditto .... .... 124 

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS. 

Free Grammar School . . .... • • • • 124 

Free School in Park^treet . . .... • • • • 125 

New Charity School ib- 

Workhouse .... .... .... • • • • «*• 

Sunday Schools .... 127 

New Market Place 128 

Post Office ib. 

PLACES OF PUBLIC AMUSEMENT 

OrandStand 128 

Stewards of Walsall Races 130 

Billiard Table .... .... o... .... 181 

Assembly Rooms ib. 

Theatre 332 

Bowling Greens .... .... . . • • 13 

Cock Pit ... . .... . . • t • • i • ''>, 



CONTENTS. 

MINES 

Limestones Mines .... .... .... 

Birchbills Colliery .... .... 

Goscott Colliery .... 

Hayhead Mines . . ... 

Lime Works at Rushall 
Limestone Mine . . ... 

Ryeeroft Sand Mines.. 
Clay Mine 

TRADES AND MANUFACTURES 

Ironmongery .... .... .... 

Saddlers' Ironmongery .... • . • • 

Coach Foundery . . .... .... 

Bridle Cutting, and Currying of Leather . . 

Bridle Bitts 

Harness .... .... .... .... 

File and Plating Manufactory .... 

Directory of Walsall Borough and Foreign. . 
Awl Blade Makers .... .... 

Buckle Makers .... .... .... 

Bradoon Makers . . .... .... 

Bridle Bitt Makers .... .... .... 

Bit Makers .... .... .... 

Bone and Ivory Turners .... .... 

Brush Makers .... .... .... 

Brass Coach Founders. . .... .... 

Bridle Cutters .... .... .... 

Bridle and Harness Tongue Maker , . , » 
Curb Makers. ... , ". , . .... 



vu 

Page. 
134 

ib. 
135 

ib. 
133 
140 
141 

ib. 



J4S 

145 

146 

ib. 

ib. 

147 

ib. 

1*9 

170 

ib. 

171 

ib. 
ib. 
ib. 
ib. 
172 
ib. 
ib. 
i& 



Vlll 



CONTENTS. 



Curriers .... .... 

Coach Bitt Makers ' . 

Coach Harness Makers. . » 
Coach Iron Pounder 
Dog Chain Makers .... 

Factors . . .... 

Locksmiths . . .... 

Platers . . .... 

Saddlers' ironmongers. . 
Spur Makers .... 

Spur Rowel Makers .... 

Stirrup Makers . ... 

Snaffle Makers .... 

Saddle Tree Makers 

Set Makers 

Bankers . . .... 

Names of Magistrates and 
Masters in Chancery 
Mails from the Post Office 
Coaches . . .... 

Waggons .... ... 

Canal Conveyance 



other Officers . . 



P<tge. 
172 

ib. 

ib. 
173 

ib. 

ib. 

ib. 

ib. 

171 

ib. 

ib. 

ib. 

175 

ib, 

ib. 
, 17b 

ib. 
. ib. 

177 
. 173 

17.0 
. 180 



MSICELLANFOUS ARTICLES. 

Forms of Appointment of Churchwardens 'for 

the Borough .... .... .... 181 

Ditto for the Foreign 182 

Forms of Appointment of Officers, at Court 

Lcet, for the Borough 183 

Ditto for the Foreign 18> 



CONTfcN'TS. 



IX 



Pgge. 

Walsall Patrole . . f 1S(> 

Borough of Walsall Court Leet .... 101 

Case submitted to Mr. William Mott .... 193 

Opinion of ditto .... .... .... 191 

Copy of original Endowment of Walsall Vicarage 19(5 

Translation of ditto ditto 199 

Expense of the Poor .... .... .... 202 

Entry of Provision for the Workhouse, 1733 204 

Priee of Provisions, 1812 .. .... .... ib. 

Vestry Book . . .... .... .... 20.3 

Population of the Borough of Walsall .... ib. 

Ditto of the Foreign of Walsall .... 20G 

Baptisms in the Parish Church of Walsall .... 207 

Burials of ditto .... .... .... ib. 

Walsall Volunteer Association .... .... 2c8 

Presentation of the. Standard Colours .... 911 

Address and Prayer .... .... . . . „ 212 

Bible Society 217 

Lodges, Clubs, and Benefit Societies 21S 

Ditto Bloxwich 2i0 

Survey of Bye Roads .... .... .... 221 

Perambulation .... .... .... 224 

( lanals . . .... .... .... .... 22G 

Burial Ground, near Walsall 227 

Interesting Account of a Trial 228 










gM 







lettmirtgijam fire-office, 

I'MON STREET, BIRMINGHAM, 
FOR INSURING 

Houses, Warehouses, Manufactories, and other Buildings, 
Farming Stock, Goods, Wares, Merchandize, 

SHIPS IN HARBOUR, AND OTHER PROPERTY, 

FROM LOSS AWD DAMaGE BY FIRE, 

SmpotoercD b? 2tt of ©arliament* 



PATRONS. 
HIE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH, 
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD VISCOUNT ASHBROOK, 
UENEAGE LEGGE, ESQ. 
WILLIAM VILLERS, ESQ. 
GEORGE SIMCOX, ESQ. 
THEODORE PRICE, ESQ. 



Common Insurance, 8S. per Cent. 

Hazardous ditto, 38. per Cent. 

Double Hazardous 58. per Cent. 

[aiming Stock on any Part of a Farm, or in any Building thereon, insured 
in one Sum, at the reduced Rate of as. per Cent, per Annum. 



ANDERSON A6HMORE, 

SAMUEL BAKER, 

JAMES BAYLEY, 

GEORGE BOONE, 

THOMAS BEILBY, 

,10HN COPE, 

JOHN WILLIAM CROMPTON, 

JOHN JENNINGS, 

JOHN T. LAWRENCE, 

JAMES LLOYD, 

SAMUEL LLOYD, 



D IR EC TORS. 

WILLIAM LEA, 
JOHN MABSON, 
RICHARD PRATCHET, 
PRICE PRITCHIT, 
THEOPHILUS RICHARDS, 
SAMUEL ROGERS, 

s. ryland, (Temple-stJ 

THOMAS SMALL, 
TIMOTHY SMITH, 
WILLIAM WHEELWRIGHT. 



TRUSTEES. 

HENEAGE LEGGE, II JOHN RYLAND, 

CHARLES LLOYD, H JAMES WOOLLEY. 

RO'ERT IN WOOD WITHER1DGE, Secretary. 
*** Attendance isghen daily from Nine to Six o'Clock. 



BIRMINGHAM 

3Lift SJnSurancc % annuity Hffice, 

UNION-STREET, BIRMINGHAM, 

For Insurance on Lives and Survivorships, Endowments o/\ 
Children, and Granting and Purchasing Annuities. 

EMPOWERED BY ACT OF PARLIAMENT. 



PATRONS. 
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH, 
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD VISCOUNT ASHBROOK, 
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD BEAUCHAMP, 
SIR CHARLES MORDAUNT, BART. M. P. 
DUGDALE STRATFORD DUGDALE, ESQ. M.P. 
HONOURBLE WILLIAM BEAUCHAMP LVGON, M. P. 
HONOURABLE WILLIAM HENRY LYTTLETOH, M. P. 
SIR ROBERT LAWLEY, BART. 
ISAAC HAWKINS BROWNE, ESQ. M. P. 



The leading Principles on which this Office is established, are 
asJbUpw.z 

1st —A CAPITAL of HALF A MILLION mil been subscribe.], as a 
Security for ail the Eig»gem«>nt9»f this lastifttfM; tbe Proprietors taking 
upon themselves the sole Responsibility, wJuia the Insurers participate with tktn 
in the Profits, without any Ri^k. 

9<L — At tbe Expiration of every seven Years one Third Part of the Profits 
is appropriated to increase each Poiiey, in Proportion to the aggregate 
Amount paid by each Person for Premium, which gives Persons assuring 
at ibis Office, every Reason to expect their Representatives will receive a 
very considerable Additiou to the Sum Insured. 

3d. — Every Proprietor is nnder the Necessity of making an Assurance, 
and when it drops, a new Assurance must be made in its Platr, which give* 
an additional Stability to tbe Institution, by a perpetual Renovation of 
Policies. 



DIRECTORS. 
WILLIAM ANDERTQN, 
SAMUEL BAKER, 
THOMAS BEACH, 
JAMES BINGHAM, 
EDWARD BOWER, 
GEORGE BOONE, 
REV. JOHN CORRIE, 
JOHN COPE, 
JOHN DEYKIN, 
JOHN JENNINGS, 
JOHN JOHNSTONE, ». D. 

ROBERT IK WOOD WlTHERIDGE r Secretary. 



JOHN TOWERS LAWRENCE, 

THOMAS LEE, 

SAMUEL LLOYD, 

JAMES LLOYD, 

WILLIAM LEA, 

JAMES OSBORNE, 

Rlt'HARD PRATCHET, 

THOMAS SMALL, 

JOHN TURNER, 

JAMES WOOLLEY. 



THE 

HISTORY & ANTIQUITIES 

OF THE PARISH OF 

WLUXMI, 

IN THE COUNTY OF STAFFORD. 



Tt ALSALL is an ancient market and incorporated 
town, situated on the South-east borders of the 
county, in the South division of Offlow hundred, and 
in the deanry of Tam worth ; six miles East from Wol- 
verhampton, nine miles South-west from Lichfield, 
and about eight from Birmingham. 

Mr. Erdeswick says, Walshall water, being past 
Rushall, enters into Walshall ; and, as he takes it, 
Robert held the same of William Fitz Anculf, 20th 
of the Conqueror*. From what source this informa- 
tion is derived I am at a loss to conjecture, as the 
above author always leaves us in the dark with re- 
spect to his authorities. I therefore rather imagine 
it to be a mere ipse dixit, there being no mention 
made of this place in Domesday-book, which seems a 

• Erdcswick'g Survey of Staffordihire, p, 147, 



singular omission, when most of the inferior mano?s 
round it are amply noticed. But, it being called in 
divers charters a manor of antient demesne of the 
crown, it was, no doubt, at that time in the king's 
hands. 

The next mention I find of it is in Henry 11*6 
reign, when that king, by his charter dated at Stan- 
ton, gave Waleshale, with all its appurtenances, to 
his servant Herbert Rufius, and his heirs, reserving 
to himself a rent of £±, per annum, for all ser- 
vices, &c* 

In Henry Ill's time, William Ruffus held this 
manor in fee-farm of the king, paying £%(5. 19s. Ud.f 
He granted certain privileges to the burgesses of 
Walsall.* In the same place it is recorded that 
Roger de Morteyne and Thomas Rufus were lords, 
but no date, mentioned. Huntbach says, sir Roger de 
Mortein, knt. had a power of free-warren here, 12 
Edw. I. and was lord 23, of the same reign. 

But I find it elsewhere recorded that the above 
William Rufus held only a moiety of this manor; 
for, in that excellent tenure-roll of the hundred, it 
is stated that Margery, daughter and heir of William 
Rufus, who held a moiety of the said manor of the 

* Hnntbach's MSS. No. 2, 36, penes me, and Cartular' de Walsall. 
p. IS. 

f Erdeswick, utsup. 

X See charter of the corporation, &c t published by Stuart, of Wol- 
vf rhampton, 1774. 



lord the king in fee-farm, was married to the son of 
Richard Alansun, by the bishop of Coventry; and 
that GeofFry de Bakepus and the son of Richard de 
Alansun held the manor of Waleshal of the king in 
fee-farm by charter, at the annual rent of =£4. to be 
paid into the exchequer. Also that they had a free 
court of old, with a fair and a market from the time 
of Henry III. but it was not known by what warrant. 
And they had the privilege of defending all suits, 
except that of forbidden distress. They took waifs, 
and had view of frank-pledge, for which they paid 
7s. to the sheriff. Walsall then answered for one 
hide. And the said Geoffry de Bakepus had there 
a park beneath the forest, laid waste from the time 
of king John. And the said manor was worth o£30. 
per annum. 

The church of Waleshill was in the gift of the 
lord the king ; and the abbey of Hales then had it of 
the gift of king Henry III. and it was worth 40 marks 
per annum.* 

Mr. Huntbach gives the following pedigree of 
William Ruftus above mentioned, viz. that he mar- 
ried Isabel, daughter and co-heir of Gilbert de Arches, 
by whom he had issue Eintina, or Encina, married to 
Eustace de Mortein, and they had issue sir Roger de 
Mortein, who was joint lord of the manor with sir 
Thomas le Rous, knt. as appears in the following 
extracts from antient evidences.! 

* Roll K. io, Hail. Brit. Mus. See vol. I. Geu. Append, xvi. 
t ExCartular de Walsall, in Brit. Muh. 



In 32 Henry III. an agreement was made between 
Gefferey de Bakepuse and Eneisin his wife, on the one 
part, and Margery, daughter of sir William Ruffus 
and Isabel, formerly his wife, on the other (viz.) that 
they should by their attorney devise and grant to the 
said GefFory and Eneisin, and their heirs, all right 
and claim which they had in the whole park, and 
great fishery or pool, of Walsall. For which the 
said Geoffery and Eneisin grant them all their right in 
the manor of Caldecote, together with the alternate 
presentation of that church. 

In the 5th of Edward I. it appears, by a French 
deed, that the said Roger Morteyn enfeofed Ralf 
Basset of Drayton, and his heirs, or John de Somery 
and his heirs, and his manor of Walsale, with the 
appurtenances for the sum of 300 livres. 

Test, sir Hugh de Audeleye, sir Roger de Swey« 
neston, Hugh de Bisshebury, &c. 

Edward I. in the 7th year of his reign, grants a 
licence on Ralph Bassett passing a fine to John de 
Somery, to enfeof the said John to hold this moiety 
of the said manor of the king by the usual services. 

Upon which the said John de Somery, lord of 
Duddeley, by his deed s. d. confirms to him and his 
heirs the said moiety of the manor of Walsale, to 
be held of the capital lord of the fee by the usual 
services. 



5 

Test, sir John de Heronville, sir Thomas le "Rous, 
knts. John de Bentley, William de Freford, William 
Hillary, William de Bowles, Thomas de Darleston, 
&c. 

33 Edward T. Thomas le Rouse, lent, lord of a 
purparty of Walshale, grants to sir Roger Morteyn, 
knt. and his heirs, a reasonable road to his wind-mill 
of Walshale, for a cart and horses at pleasure ; for 
which the said Roger gave him his purparty of the 
fishery called Ladypole, with its appurtenances. 

Test, sir John de Horonvile, sir James de Eley, 
knts. Johe dno de Bentley, William de Bol, lord of 
Rushal, Rado de Pipa, &c. Dat. at Walshale, anno 
regni reg. E. fil. reg. H. III. 33*. 

34 Edward I. Roger de Morteyn, lord of Wals- 
hale, knt. grants, &c. to Henry de Prestwood, and 
John his son, two mills in the fee of Waleshale ; viz. 
his water-mill at Bertmescote, and his wind-mill at 
Walshale, for term of life, &c. 

Test, sir William Trumwyne and John Heronvile, 
knts, John de Bentleye, William Hillary, &c. 

In the 6th of Edward II; John le Rous quit 
claims to Thomas le Rous all his right of Housboute 
and Haybote, in Walshale wood, belonging to his 
free tenement in Shelefiled, and all other services and 
rents, &c. in the whole demesne of Walsholma, be- 
longing to the said Thomas Rous and his heirs. 



Test. John de Heronvile, John de Benteley, Wil- 
liam de Bowles, &c. 

12 Edward II. Thomas le Rous, knt. lord of his 
purparty of Walshale, grants two crofts, one in the 
Wod ende, called Dedicroft, and the other in Calde- 
more, to Richard Paignel his brother. 

Test. John lord of Benteley, William Bowles, 
William Hillory, &c. 

19 Edward II. Roger Hillory, rector of the 
church of Allerwich, makes an agreement with 
Thomas le Rous, knt. about his rent of 15s. 4d. for 
lands and tenements held of him beneath the manor of 
Walshale. 

19 Edward II. Thomas le Rous, knt. grants to 
Robert Bonde three acres of his waste land in the 
Bircheles, on condition that he should not make any 
mines of lime-stone in the same. 

3 Edward III. sir Roger de Morteyn, knt. lord of 
one moiety of the manor of Walshale, grants, &c. 
to sir Thomas le Rous, knt. lord of the other moiety, 
and to his heirs or assigns, a moiety of one of the 
fisheries in Walshale, towards the Grange of Calewen- 
hull, and land of Stephen Petite of Walshale, for 
which the said Thomas gave him a certain tenement 
in Little Armyscote, and a road to his wind-mill. 

By a French deed, 12 Edward III. Thomas le 
Rous, knt. confirms to Ralph Basset, lord of Drayton, 



all his moiety of the manor of Walshale, with the ap- 
purtenances, which he had of the gift and feofment 
of sir Philip Burnel, together with all other lands 
and tenements, rents and services, of the free tenants 
and bondmen which he had in the said manor. 

Test, sir Philip de Somervile, sir Robert Mauvey- 
syn, sir Richard de Stafford, William de Bowles, John 
de Benteley, Hugh de Aston, John de Blound, &c. 
Dated at Drayton Basset, ut supra. 

13 Edward III. the king's pardon was granted to 
Ralph Basset of Drayton, for having obtained to him- 
self and his heirs in fee, a moiety of the manor of 
Walshale, with the appurtenances of Alice L' Archer, 
without royal licence, which was held in capite. 

Patent witnessed by Edward duke of Cornwall, and 
earl of Chester, the king's son, cust. Angl. apud 
Berkhampstead, 20th of March, 13 Edward. 

In the 15th of the same reign this pardon was 
again confirmed by letters patent, on his paying a fine 
©f 40s. Dated at West. 16 April.* 

Afterwards sir Ralph Basset made an estate-tail of 
this manor, with divers remainders, as before-mention- 
ed, under Drayton Basset,f the remainder to Thomas 
Beauchamp, earl of Warwick, (whose daughter was 
married to the son of the said sir Ralph.) All in the 



* Chartulary in Brit. Mus. 

t Se« p, 3. 



t 

remainder die; and the estate came to the said earl, 
who was lord thereof 19 Richard II. as appears by the 
following :* 

" Concerning the Grinding of Come, by the In- 
habitants of Walshale, at the Lord's Mills, 19 
Richard II. 

" Mind that Thomas earl of Warwick, lord of 
Walshale, the xixth of kyng Richard the Seconde, 
sends his servants and counselours, Thomas Knyght, 
parson of the church of Hanslape, surveiour of the 
ionds of the sayd earle; John Hugford and William 
Spernors, squyeres, to his towne and lordship of Wal- 
shale, for the oversyght and good governance of the 
sayd towne and lordship. And (here at that tyme on 
Jenkyn Cole, fermour of my sayd lordes mylle in 
Walshale, yeald the portmylle, complaynde to my 
sayd lordes consel, that the burgesses of the burgh 
of Walshale wolde not grynde at my sayd lordes 
mylne, as hit was there decrete; and how they 
caryde there corne to Ruysshale mylne, and to oder 
dyvers mylnes in the contre, and grjond there corne 
and malte from my sayd lordes mylnes, to the gret 
prejudice and hurt to the sayd Jenkyn, sole fermour 
of my sayd lordes mylne, whereof he preyeth reme- 
dye; the whiche matyere and complaynt wel con- 
seyvde and understondon by my sayd lordes consels, 
they sende for all the burgesses of the sayd burght of 

* J'iom the same Chartulary. 



9 

Walshale, to come before them, and answere to the 
complaynt above rehersede. Of the whiche matyerc 
my sayd lordes consel examynede the skyd tenenl.es 
and burgesses, as well severally as generally; and 
there the sayd consel of my lo:d of Warrewyk fondon, 
by the othes of xii men of the sayd tencnantes and 
burges, and also by feyr evidence in wrytyng that was 
shewede, that the sayd burgeses of Walshale be at 
there fredom to grynde where they lyste and to carye 
i here corne and malt, or do hit to be c.iriode to what, 
mylne that hym best lyste that owneth the sayd corne 
or mall; and upon thys mattyere thus foundon, my 
sayd lordes consel cald before hem the sayd Jenkyn 
Cole, fermour of my sayd lordes my hies, and bede 
hym, and conselode hym, that he shulde fYyifldon 
hym before wyth the burgeses of Walshale, and that 
he shulde gete hym a eonynge mylner, and serve 
trewely my lordes tenantes; and in syche maner trete 
hem, that he myghte have ther gode wyiles; and b\ 
syche menes drawe to hym the grystof the sayd to.\ n 
of Walshale; for they oughte not to compelle hem to 
grynde at my sayd lordes mylne in Walshale, for 
hit ys at hore owne fredain to grynde where thcni 
lyste." 

Thomas Beauchamp, and his son Thomas, and 
grandson Richard, all earls of Warwick, and lords of 
Walsall, were buried in St. Mary's, Warwick. Henry 
•hike of Warwick, son of the said Richard, was buried 
at Tewkaburv. 



10 

In 14(50 Nicholas Leveson, esq, had twenty pounds 
granted him by king Henry VI. out of the demesnes 
of Walsall, .Sec. for the losses he had sustained at Black 
heath and Blore heath, at the last of which places he 
■was stripped and left for dead.* 

This manor remained in the above family till 
Richard Xevil, earl of Salisbury, married Anne, sister 
and heir of Henry Beauchamp, duke of Warwick, in 
the time of Henry IV. who became lord of the manor 
of Walsall in right of his wife. This great man, who 
was called the Make King, was slain at the battle of 
Barnet, 1171, by king Edward IV. After which, his 
corpse being carried to London, with that of the 
marquis of Montague, his brother, and there exposed 
to public view in St. Paul's, was thence conveyed to 
Bisham, co. Berks, and inteired in that monastery, with 
his ancestors the Montacurcs, by whom it had been 
founded. 

Comines, being sent to Calais to the duke of Bur- 
gundy, to treat with Vauclere, (the deputy-governor 
there to this great man,) reports, that he was so 
popular that every one wore his badge; no man 
esteeming himself gallant, whose head was not adorn- 
ed with his ragged staff; in so much as Vauclere 
himself wore a jewel in his hat, wherein was a black 
ragged staff, embroidered with gold. 

Of his extraordinary hospitality we also find this 
observed, that at his house in London, Warwick lane, 

* Ilimthacl. MS. No. 2, p. 57. 



11 

were lodged fiOO men, all in red jackets, embroidered 
with ragged staves before and behind ; and six oxen 
were usually eaten at a breakfast, and every tavern 
full of his meat ; for who that had any acquaintance 
in his family, should have as much sodden and roast 
as he might carry on a long dagger.* 

The duke of Clarence, son-in-law of this great 
earl, was afterwards lord of this manor. He was 
buried at Tewkesbury. 1 do not find that the duke's 
son, Richard IMantagenet, ever had the manor, for he 
was a prisoner most of his life, and was murdered by 
Henry VII. The manor was restored to his grand- 
mother, (Anne countess of Warwick,) above mention- 
ed; and she by a special feofment, and fine thereupon, 
conveyed the same to Henry VII. and his issue male, 
with remainder to herself and heirs ; in consequence of 
which king Henry VII. was lord And the said king- 
granted some lands; viz. two wastes, Cleyhonger and 
Beniley Lawud, ike. not then, though now, deemed a 
part of the manor, to Edward Stafford, duke of Buck- 
ingham; but the said duke was not lord of the whole, 
for Henry VIII. was lord, as heir to his father ; and he 
in the loth year of his ieign, granted it in fee farm to 
Robert Acton and Mr. Gower, grooms of the king's 
chamber, during their natural lives, or the survivor of 
them, reserving £40. yearly rent. Acton purchased 
from Gower his share. Which Robert Acton, gent. 
by indenture of lease, December 14, 20 Henry VI II. 

* Baron, vol. I. p. 306; and StoweV Survey of London, edit. 1G0.J, 
p. 89. 



12 

granted to Walter Devereux, lord Ferrers of Chartley, 
the parkship of Walsall, with all manner o{ herbage, 
pannage, pools, waters, fisheries, &c. for £i 1. 13s. 4d. 
a year. 

Likewise, the said Robert Acton, and Thomas 
Acton, by their indenture, June 26", 31 Henry VIII. 
demised to George Hawe a water-mill and a horse- 
mill in Walsall, parcel of the manor of Walsall, 
which the said Robert Acton held to farm of the 
demise and grant of Henry VIII. for term of his 
life,* 

Afterwards king Henry VIII. in the 32d year of 
his reign, granted the manor to John Dudley, duke of 
Northumberland, who held it till the reign of queen 
Mary, when, he being attainted of high treason and 
beheaded, it appears by his inquisition that he was 
seised of the manor and borough of Walsall, and of 
COO acres of pasture, ICO of weed, with the appurte- 
nances, called Walsall park, lying in "Walsall. He- 
was also seised of the rectory of Walsall, with the 
tithes, and other appurtenances, worth <£10. per an- 
num ; and Bentley, and parcel of the manor of Wal- 
sall. Mr. Hutton, in his History of Birmingham, 
speaks of this last as a man of infamous principles 
and character. Besides his other possessions, he was 
lord of Warwick, Birmingham, Dudley, Wolverhamp- 
ton, and Walsall ; but his great estates and high station 
could not keep his neck from the axe. In Vincent's 

* Old MS. in the possession of Mr. Curtis. 



13 

Heraldry, (p. 3S3,) is the following . — "John Cocke, 
Lancaster Herald, (some time servant to this duke,) 
begged of queen Mary, to bury the head of his old 
master in the Tower of London; which was granted 
him with the whole body, and performed accordingly. 
In remembrance whereof, the said Lancaster did (ever 
after) bear for his crest, a bear's head silver, crowned 
gold." I imagine this had some allusion to the badge 
for Warwick (and Walsall.) The solicitude of this 
Mr. Cocke for the remains of his old master shewed a 
gratitude not often practised to fallen grandeur. Wal- 
sall manor seems to have been an appendage to the 
earldom of Warwick, from the Beauchamps to the 
above John Dudley, and to have gone along with it as 
an appendage. This manor now came into the queen's 
hands, and she, in consideration of d£1000. granted it 
to Richard Wildbraham, esq. ofWoodhey in Cheshire. 
The said Richard afterwards purchased Acton's right 
in the same, and also satisfied Edward lord Stafford 
for his claim of some lands held by his grandfather, 
Edward Stafford, duke of Buckingham, above men- 
tioned. Richard Wilbraham, grandson to the above 
named, was, by king James I. created a baronet; and 
the estate remained in this family till the death of sir 
Thomas, the last baronet : Arms, " arg. 3 bends wavy 
azure." He left two daughters, one of whom, named 
Grace, married sir Lionel Tollemaehe, earl of Dysart 
(of Scotland,) and the other, named Mary, married sir 
Riehard Newport, earl of Bradford, and she was lady 
of this manor. She hnd three daughters by her hus- 
band, who were co-heiresses, one married Pult- 



14 

ney, esq. ; the third, Anne, married, Aprils, 1719, 
sir Orlando Bridgeman, bart. of Castle Bromwich, co. 
Warwick, father of the present lord Bradford, of 
Weston-under-Lizard, of whose family and place a 
full account will be hereafter given ; the other, lady 
Diana, in 1721, married Algernoou Coote, 6th earl of 
Mountrath, and on dividing the estates this manor 
became the sole property of the said lady, who held it 
till her death, about J 707, and she was succeeded by 
her only son, Charles Henry, earl of Mountrath, the 
present lord of the manor of Walsall. He resides 
chiefly in Norfolk, and being unmarried, his heir 
apparent is Chid'ey Coote. Arms, " Argent, a 
chevron, between three cootes Sable." Crest, " on a 
wreath, Az. and Sa. a coote proper; supporters, two 
wolves proper gorged." Motto, " Vincit Veritas." 

We do not find that any of the lords of this manor 
ever had a mansion, or resided in this parish, or were 
buried here. 

The copyhold tenures in this manor are upon rea- 
sonable terms to the holders, not being burdened 
| with fines or heriots, and paying only a few pence 
annually to the lord as acknowledgment; and, indeed, 
in some respects, are superior to freeholds, as a per- 
son who is a copyholder here may sell his estate 
without any restriction in regard of dower, or being 
at the heavy expences of suing for a fine at the courts 
of London. 



15 

From a rent roll of the lord's estate here, in 1744, 
it appears to have been then something more than 
,£500. per annum. It is now above .£1500. The 
parish (which is large) is distinguished by two names, 
that is, the town part, which is called the Borough, 
and the country part, called the Foreign ; each of 
which maintain their own poor respectively ; but the 
rates are much higher in the Borough than in the 
Foreign ; in the latter is included the village of BIox- 
wich, where there is a chapel ; and the hamlets of 
Little Bloxwich, Harping, Birchills, Town's End, 
Walsall wood, Windmill, Caldmore, Limepit Bank, 
&c. 

In Walsall parish there are eight surveyors of 
the highways, two for the Borough, and six for the 
Foreign, i. e. two for Walsall-wood district, two for 
Bloxwich district, and two for the district of the 
Windmill. 



MOSELEY's DOLE. 

At this place there is a very odd custom of giving 
a penny loaf yearly, on Twelfth eve, to every person 
belonging to the town, and out-hamlets of the parish, 
that will come to fetch it. The origin of this can 
hardly now be discovered. Tradition s:iys, that one 
Thomas Moseley, of this place, a long time ago, hear- 
ing a child cry for want of bread, on the eve of 
V.piphany, was resolved the like should never happen 



16 

there again, and th;;t therefore he settled bis manor 
of Bascote, com. Warwick, upon the town, to pro- 
vide annually a penny loaf for every person within 
the liberties of Walsall, on Twelfth eve, for ever. 
The truth, says Dr. Plott, seems to be this: — one 
Thomas Moseley, by deed of feoffment, dated 30 
Henry VI. settled his manor of Bascote for performing 
afmually an obit for the soul of him and his wife 
Margaret, in the church of Walsall, and in the abbey 
of Hales Owen. No mention is here made of any dole 
to be given ; but the remainder of the rents is abso- 
lutely given to the town. Whether the town gave, at 
first, this dole out of their part of the rents is uncer- 
tain ; but the first time we meet with this custom is 
in 1539, when the bellman summoned the people to 
repair to the church to pray for the souls of Thomas 
Moseley and Margaret his wife. At this time a dole 
was given, and £7, 10s. 9i. discharged it. At the 
Reformation this was deemed a superstitious custom, 
and so the lands w r ere seized by the Crown, where 
they lay till the 28th of queen Elizabeth; but the 
town rented them, and so continued the dole. She 
gave this manor to sir Jacob Crofts, controller of her 
household, who sold it to one Shaw and one Head- 
cock, and they again to the Corporation, who possess 
it to this day. The whole rent of the manor in Plot's 
time was about .=£100. per annum, and the dole 
amounted to about two or three and twenty pounds. 

SiF William Dugdale, in his History of Warwick- 
shire, p. 347, says nothing of this dole, but gives a 



17 

different account of this Moseley's gift to the town of 
Walsall. IJe says, that one Thomas Moseley, of 
Moxhul, in the county of Warwick, being lord of 
Bascote, in that county, gave it in trust, A. D. 1452, to 
William Lyle and Thomas Magot for the use of the 
town of Walsall. Lyle being the surviving trustee, 
his son John claimed it as his own land, denying the 
trust. Hereupon, a suit being commenced by the 
town against him, in 1515, it was adjudged to Richard 
Hurst, and John Ford,, for the use of the town, who 
soon after made a new feofment, and so it continues in 
the hands of trustees to this day. 

From these two accounts we may, I think, con- 
clude, that Hurst and Ford were the lirst beginners of 
this dole, though the reason of it does not appear ; 
and that they gave it the name of Moseley's Dole, not 
because he was the founder of it, but because it was 
paid out of the profits of his lands. " In 17 20, a com- 
mission for charitable uses being issued out of Chan- 
cery, for this county, among the rest, complaint was 
made against the corporation of Walsall about this 
dole ; but it plainly appeared that the lands belonged 
to the corporation, and that the dole was only custo- 
mary, which might be continued, or omitted, as they 
pleased."* However, an attempt being made to with- 
hold it a few years ago, the populace, by their cla- 
mours and riotous disposition, forced the continuance 
of it. 



* (Wilkes, MSS.) In the Universal Magazine for January, 1788, is | 
an account of this singular custom. 



18 

The number of inhabitants we calculate at differ- 
ent periods from this dole, as follows: — in the 13th of 
Henry VII. about IS09; in 1686, according to Plot, 
not exceeding 5500; and in such proportion has the 
population been progressively increasing, that by the 
same standard it appears, that the number of inhabit- 
ants in the whole parish (including those of Rushal!, 
which is not very populous) now amounts to 14,000, 
about 9000 of whom are supposed to live in the town 
of Walsall. 

When hearth-money was collected, about 1660, 
Walsall borough paid for 375 hearths, £37. ]0s. Od. 
Walsall Foreign for 192 hearths, <£lo. 4s. Od. 

There is a sort of boundary between the Borough 
and Foreign in regard to the great tithes; but that 
is not a rule respecting the poor's rates, for those 
inhabitants of the borough who hold lands in the 
Foreign, pay for such lands to the poor's rates of the 
Borough. There are several hamlets near the town, 
and some close adjoining it, that are reckoned 
part of the Foreign, and pay to the poor's rates 
thereof. 

There are four friendly societies in this town, whose 
members amount in the whole to about 900 men and 
300 women. 

The Borough and Foreign have the same lord of 
the manor, vicar, and major. The mayor for the 
time being, with the senior alderman, and late mayor, 
are in the commission of the peace, and hold sessions 



19 

four times in the year, to try petty larceny and the 
like; by which privilege such matters are decided 
here, instead of being at the ex pence and trouble ot 
attending the county court; and the inhabitants are 
exempt from serving on juries at Stafford. 

The Guildhall is rather a modern building, in the 
High-street, the court room of which is a recess with 
steps leading to the entrance, over which is a niche 
intended to contain a statue of king Charles I. but has 
never been filled yet. One wing is the front of the 
Dragon inn, and the other is a large room, where the 
Corporation meet, and is called the Mayor's Parlour. 
Under this is the town prison, which is bad enough, 
but it is not often inhabited. The antient wooden 
staffs belonging to the mayor and corporation, still 
deposited in the hall, are curious relics of antiquity, 
being decorated with heads of various animals, &c. 
rudely carved. 

The seal of the Corporation is not the same, as the 
town arms, {i. e. the bear and ragged staff,) but I was 
lately undeceived by seeing an impression from it. 
It represents three fleurs de lis, and three lions quar- 
terly, with two lions as supporters, and over the arms 
a crown without an arch. Over the rim of the crown 
are five fleurs de lis, and no crosses (as customary 
when the crown of England is represented.) The 
seal is nearly the size of a crown-piece ; the inscrip- 
tion round it is in Latin, and in very antient characters, 
as represented in the large plate, meaning, " The seal 
©f the mayor and commonalty of the Borough 'and 



20 

i'oreign of Walsall." This seal must have been the 
arms of some of out monarchs from FJem-y V. to 
Hizabeth, inclusive. Kin^s Edward III. Richard IT. 
and Henry IV. all quartered the fleurs delis semee; 
and James 1. quartered the Scotch lion; and as there 
is no date to the seal, I conjecture it is not more than 
380 nor le>s than LOO years old. It is kept by the 
town-clerk, who is also steward for this monor to lord 
Mountrath. 

The sheriff of the county, by his deputy, holds a 
court in this town, at the Castle Inn, every third Mon- 
day, for the recovery of debts under forty si 
but the iexpem.es are very great both to plaintiff and 
defendant; and if the creditor loses the cause, he not 
only has the loss of his debt, but perhaps six or seven 
pounds to pay besides. 

An error prevails in most printed accounts of 
Walsall respecting the fairs, which are three in the 
year ; viz. February 24, Whitsun Tuesday, and the 
Tuesday before St. Michael. This last is sometimes 
erroneously set down October 10. The fair at Whit- 
suntide is not held by charter; but may be deemed a 
market-day in that holiday time, and a fair by pre- 
scription. 

In this town is a charity-school, which consists of 
24 boys and 16 girls, all cloathed in blue. They are 
taught and cloathed gratis; but not lodged or boarded. 
The expence attending this school, and paying the 
master and mistress, is defrayed by subscriptions, 



21 

donations, and sermons preached on the Wake Sunday. 
The present school room is in the Market Cross, which 
was erected about 100 years since, at the upper end of 
the High-street ; but is Intended to be taken down, to 
widen the passage, and open the view to the church. 
This street is spacious and tolerably well built ; 
Park- street is also very wide; but has many low 
houses, 

Being tinged with the smoke of a manufacturing 
vicinity, this town has been often looked upon with 
ignominy and contempt ; but surely without just rea- 
son, if we may judge from its present improved ap- 
pearance. And, though it has hitherto been very 
imperfectly described, and little noticed, it surely de- 
serves to be better known; for its lords, as we bave 
before shewn, have been some of the most eminent 
men in the kingdom, and its situation is peculiarly 
striking, on a bold eminence, from the summit of 
which rises its fine old Gothic church and lofty spire, 
the streets and houses gradually descending on every 
side. 

Queen Elizabeth, it is said, once honoured this 
town with a visit, and slept in a house in Ablewell- 
street, where the Red Lion now stands ; but of this 
we have no authority but tradition. 

Of remarkable persons, either born, educated, or 
resident in this parish, we have obtained the following 
particulars. The celebrated statesman, John lord 
Somers, who died April Q6, 17 Iff, is said, in the 



22 

European Magazine,* from a MS. in the possession of 
Dr. Birch, to have had his grammar learning here ; hut, 
according to Mr. Winnington's account, his education 
was under Mr. Woodhouse, who kepi a private 
academy at Sheriff-Hales. 

We have before mentioned, that bishop Houghf 
had the early part of his education at the same free- 
school here, which was founded by queen Mary. 
The present master is the rev. T. Blackham. 

" Near Walsall, captain Henry Stone, a merchant 
of Plymouth, hath his seat, being given him by an 
uncle, of his own surname, upon condition to reside 
on it. As I have heard this present possessor was a 
busy man in sequestrations, decimations, and in the 
first war against the king, having, as it is believed, 
gained a great estate by it; he hath ever since been 
justice of peace, and in 1656 attempted to have 
been a knight for the county, but was put back with 
disgrace." + 

The above house appears to have been what is 
now known by the sign of the Wheat Sheaff, in the 
populous hamlet called the Windmill. In addition 
to common report, and other evidence of this being 
the residence of that active officer in Cromwell's army, 



•Vol. XXIII. p. 4. 
t See Vol. I. p. 277. 
X D e gge' 8 Additions to Erdeswirft, p. 81. 



23 

it is now identified by the initials of his and his 
wife's name in a large brick in front of it, thus, 

S. 

H. S. 

1662. 

After the Restoration, however, he distinguished 
himself by acts of charity and benevolence, as may 
be. seen by some of his benefactions to the poor, in. 
the list hereafter printed. He also built a large gal- 
lery at the West end of this church, for the accom- 
modation of those parishioners who had not seats of 
their own; and he left money to keep it in constant 
repair. He was likewise a benefactor to the poor of 
Cannock, as appears by the tables of that church. 
Mr. Stone's children dying before himself, he left 

three grandaughters under the guardianship of • 

Hanbury, of Norton, esq. and, in consequence of a 
suit in Chancery against their guardian, they sold their 
interest in the estate to a Mr. Stubbs for <£S00. each ; 
in whose family it remained till lately, when it was 
Fold in lots, to different purchasers; but,- there being- 
some defect in the titles, 1 understand the affair is 
now in Chancery. 

" There is in Walsall likewise the seat of John 
Wollaston, gent, and of his father before him ; and 
at Calmore near by, the seat of one Haw or Hall. 
George Haw died the Qth of March, 1660, seised of 
lands in Walsall and Sneltiela, which George, his son, 
fhen seventeen years old, well improved, and left 



24 

them to his son. I presume this George Ha\V may be 
one of the sons of Lawrence Haw, a citizen and fish- 
monger of London, w r iiose tomb is in Foster church, 
in Farringdon ward. Arms, 

" Sa. a chevron between three leopards heads, 
erased Ar."* 

There was formerly an antient mansion close to 
the town called Reynolds hall, to which was a hand- 
some avenue, or coach-road, from the lower end of 
Rushall-street. 

Sir Simon Degge says, at Reynolds hall is the 
seat of John Persehouse, whose father was a practi- 
tioner in the law, or his grandfather, and lived in good 
repute. His son adhered to the king, Charles I. in the 
late war, and was forced to a composition with the 
Parliament, at the rate of ,£ L 10. by the name of John 
Piershouse, of Reynolds haw, or hall, "Walsall. The 
said John was prebendary and vicar of Weston, Pen, 
and Rosse. The family had this seat in marriage with 

one of the daughters and coheirs of Walker, of 

Reynolds hali, whose ancestor married the daughter 
and heir of Reynolds, in whose name and family it 
had for some time continued. 

Walker's arms, to which the family of the Perse- 
houses had claim, were; Argent, a chevron, Sable, 
charged with two bezants, Or, a crescent of the first, 
between three crescents of the second. 

* Degg's Additions to Erdetwick, p. 8 1 . 



A pedigree of the Persehouse family contains the 
following: 

John Persehouse, of Reynolds hall, the lawyer, 
had issue Richard, who, by Frances, daughter of 
Humphry Wyrley, esq. had issue John (living in the 
reign of Charles II.) a very loyal person to king 
Charles I. He married Elizabeth, daughter of- John 
Chester, esq. and had issue John, aged seven in 16G3. 
Him I take to have been the father or elder brother of 
Humphry, who bought Lynne hall. It seems clear 
that some of the family lived at this place; for, the 
register mentions the interment of Granada Perse- 
house, of Lynne, June 29, 1(335. 

William, son of Humphry, had issue William, of 
Reynolds hall, in I he commission of the peace, who 
died in March, 1731, leaving Richard, and two 

daughters, by his wire, daughter of Parker, 

gent. lie had a second wife, , daughter of 

Townshend, but find no issue by her. 

One of the daughters married to John Douglas. 
D. I), then chaplain in ordinary to the king, canon of 
Windsor, and now bishop of Salisbury; the other to 
the rev. Mr. Burgess, of Herefordshire. 

Richard Persehouse, esq. the last of the family who 
resided here, was left a minor. In 1702, he was one 
of the three persons pricked down for sheriff for the 
county of Stafford, but was not nominated or confirm- 
ed by the king. He became heir to Parker, of 

Bloxwich, gent, his mother's brother* He married 

E 



an 

two wives, both daughters of Ryley, of Won 

ut; one of them, named Racljael, married December 
18,1754; by the first he had several children, who 
all died infants, but none by the latter, lie, himself, 
had a tender constitution, and a thin habit of body, 
which was attacked by a fever, that carried him olV 
in December 1771, being not more than forty years 
old. By will he provided for his widow, but left the 
chief part of his estates at Reynolds hall, Walsall, in 
Rushall, with a moiety of the tithes of the last parish. 
in Lynne, &c. to bis godson John Walhouse, second 
son of Moreton Walhouse, esq. of Hatherton on Can- 
noc, by Frances, sister of sir Edward Lyttelton, of 
Pillaton, baronet.* 

The hall, gardens, and avenue, are now no more, 
having been all destroyed to get at the lime-stone 
rocks under them, and not a remnant of the buildings 
to be seen, except some of the oltices, which are 
likely to share the same fate. 

To descend to more modern and trivial sketches in 
biography, the following anecdotes relating to two 
natives of this town may perhaps be acceptable. Mr. 
Siddons, (whose Christian name I believe is William,) 
the husband of the celebrated tragic performer, was 
born in Rushall-street, in this town, His father kept 
a public house, known by the sign of the London Ap- 
prentice, and met with his death by accident, in spar- 
ring or wrestling with one Denston. The present Mr. 

* Sanders' History of Sltenstone, p. 239. 9. 



27 

Siddons, as I am informed, was bred a barber. He 
seems to have had a tUTn ibr the stage early in life; 
for, about thirty years since, he and some others of 
his acquaintance performed a play in the malt-house of 
Mr. Samuel Wood, on the Lime-pit bank, in this town, 
for the amusement of themselves and friends. Re 
afterwards joined the itinerant company of Mr. 
Kemble, and in time married one of his daughters; 
and now, through the abilities of his wife, and the 
favours of the public, he has become independent in 
bis circumstances, and has not pei formed on the stage 
many years. 

The other person whom I shall treat of is one who 
was very conspicuous at Sadler's Wells in the sum- 
mer of 1790", and known to a London audience by 
the name of Asking, the ventriloquist. His real name 
is Thomas Haskey, and he is now about thirty years 
of age. His father was a chape filer, and was also 
named Thomas. He had used to ring the treble bell, 
and has since been dead some years; but his mother 
(who was sister to Joseph Lea, who kept the sign of 
the Valiant Trooper, at Arden, an hamlet one mile 
from Walsall) has not been long dead; and has left 
three daughters in low circumstances. The present 
Thomas was apprentice at Bloxwich, at the trade of 
bridle-bit making, and ran away from his master in 
the American war. He went into the king's service, 
and lost a leg; and he has a pension. The surprizing 
faculty he is possessed of, I believe, he knew nothing 
of when he was a boy; but I imagine he made him- 



28 

rtJf master of it by imitating O'Bunvlhe re'ebr-- 

Irish ventriloquist, who died in January, 1 7D(>. After 
Ha&key's discharge from the service he was a good 
deal at Walsall; but more at Lich!ieid, where, if 
i ::m rightly informed, he had used to assist the gar- 
deners by making holes with his wooden leg to set 
potatoes in the ground. He has had little or no 
ation; but he always kept himself very clean 
and decent in his dress; and, when Mr. Stanton's 
company of performers were at Walsall, he fre- 
quently from the gallery set the house on a roar 
by sham dialogues, in two voices, between himself 
and Tommy, lie was frequently sent for by lord 
Dudley to Himley, to exercise his talents for the 
amusement of his lordship and company; and he had 
the pride always to hire a post-chaise, to take him 
there from Walsall. How he was introduced on the 
_e I cannot say; but he was the means of 
drawing a deal of company to Sadlei's Wells in the 
season of 1796, when he cleared 2001, for his benefit. 
His capacity not allowing him to invent extempore 
dialogues with sufficient variety and taste, they are 
composed for him, and he learns them as players 
learn their parts. 

The staple manufacture of Walsall may be said to 
be shoe-buckles and chapes, in which a great number 
of hands are employed, and some good foi tunes have 
been made. Also the town and neighbourhood, par- 
ticularly Bloxwich, is famous for the manufacture of 

riV ironmon^erv, such as bridle-bits, stirrups, 



29 

•pUrs, <xe. These are sold to the sadlers 5 ironmongers 

at Walsall, and form the basis of a considerable 
traffic, carried on to great advantage, and by them 
circulated to every part of the kingdom. The manu- 
facture of nails is likewise very considerable in the 
Foreign of Walsall; a great number of women and 
children, as well as men, are employed in making the 
fmer and lighter sorts, which they do equally well. 
These manufactures suffered a great depression in the 
American war: but were extremely flourishing during 
the peace, from the conclusion of that war to the 
commencement cf the present; since which they have 
Buffered more or less by the war; the trades of nails and 
sadlers' ironmongery are pretty good; buckles and 
locks indifferent. 

The decline, however, of the buckle trade, which 
formerly was the chief support of this town, is owing 
to different causes besides the war; viz. the great 
price now paid for copper, brass, and tin; the long- 
prevailing fashion of wearing shoe-strings, and the 
present custom of the army not wearing buckles. In 
consequence of this, business being bad, many of the 
■workmen have been, and are now, in distressed cir- 
cumstances, and some of them obliged to learn new 
trades. 

Notwithstanding these depressions, the spirit of loy- 
alty which has of late so much diffused itself through 
the kingdom in armed associations, in defence of 
their property, has been very conspicuous here ; an 
excellent corps of yeoman cavalry being established 



30 

under command of their spirited and generous captain, 
Joseph Scott, of Great Barr, esq. and another of 

infantry, of which Jesson, esq. is the principal 

officer. 

riot says the water of the well at the house be- 
longing to the mayor is alluminated. 

In the road to "Wolverhampton, about a mile 
from this town, i9 now a strong chalybeate water, 
called Alum Well. 



THE CHURCH, 

A vicarage dedicated to St. Matthew, or All Saints, 
and valued at £10 19s. 7d. in the king's books. 

It was granted to the monastery of Hales Owen 
by sir William Ruffus, about 12£0, as appears by the 
following account. 

King Henry III. after confirming his father's grant 
and foundation charter of this monastery of Hales 
Owen, anno. 1218, conferred on the same the patron- 
age of the church of Walshall, with its chapels: but 
notwithstanding this grant, it should seem that this 
advowson was first given to Hales monastery by sir 
William Ruffus, knight; for a deed, sans date, (1220,) 
occurs in the Monasticon, whereby RufFus grants to 
the abbot and convent of Hales the church of Walshall, 
cum capellis, ad hospitalitatem ejusdem domus support- 
andam, witnessed by Peter, bishop of Winton, WiU 



31 

liam, bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, &c.* which 
hitter died long before the date of king Henry's grant, 
and the former some years. I conjecture, therefore, that 
the Crown had some claim to this advowson, which in- 
duced the abbot of Hales to procure a fresh grant from 
the king.f Being thus possessed of the advowson, 
they obtained licence from the bishop of Lichfield 
and Coventry to appropriate the tithes to their house ; 
and by the same instrument the vicarage of Walshall 
was instituted, consisting of a yearly stipend of 
thirteen marks, together with all the small tithes and 
obventions arising within the chapelries of Weddes- 
bury and Rushall. In the 21st of Edward I. a quo 
warranto was brought against the abbot of Hales at 
the suit of the Crown, for this advowson of Walshall 
and Weddesbury: to this the abbot pleaded king 
Henry Ill's grant, which was allowed as to Walshall, 
but not to Weddesbury, which latter was said to be 
a mother-church, and not a chapel dependent on 
Walshall. On this issue was joined, and a trial had 
per pais, wherein the jury found " quod predicta 
capella de Weddesbury fuit matrix ecclesia, ante 
donacionem quam Henr. rex fecit abbati de Hales et 
successoribus, et antequam predicta ecclesia de Wed- 
desbury fuisset matrix ecclesia, et non capella pertinens 
ad ecclesiam de Walshall. Ideo consideratum est 
quod diis rex recusaret seisinam suam de advocatione 
predicte capelle de Weddesbury et abbas in miseri-, 

* Dugil. Monast, torn. II. p 
t Nash's Appendix, No XIV. 



31 

COltUa.*** "But, notwithstanding this verdict aga.nst 
the abbot, he ami his successors i the right 

of presenting to Weddesbury as well as Walshall, 
without interruption, til the Dissolution; Qnd, 
same year that this suit was brought* the king ac- 
cepted a fine of ten murks from the abbot for the 
advowson of Weddesbury. " Et admittatur (says 
the second) finis iste per petitionem retornataui do 
parliamento regis apud Lincoln."! Whence, perhaps, 
may be concluded, that the crown parted with its 
right in the advowson for this sum of money. 

In the 30th of Edward III. a royal licence was 
granted to John de Bevcrle, ami William (Veson of 
Walshall, to found a chantry, called Beverley chantry, 

in the church of Walshall, and to appropriate lands 
and tenements to the value of live marks per annum, 
with the appurtenances, in Walshall and Elu shall, 
not held in capite, to find a chaplain to say mass 
daily at the altar o( St. John Baptist, in the said 
church. 

And, by an inquisition taken at Walshall before 
Philip ile Lutteleye, eseheator to the king, July SO, 
the same year, it appears that the said lands consisted 
of four messuages, one carucate of land, twenty acres 
of meadow, and six acres of pasture; and that the 
said messuages and carucate were held of Ralph 
Basset, by knight's service, &c. ami were worth, per 

* Nnsti's Appendix, No. XV. 

t Intel Records de am»o ji ILdward 1. from thr late Mr. MyttonN 
collection. 



38 

annum, thirty shillings clear. The said twenty acres 
Of meadOW, and six acres of pasture, were held of 
William de Walshall by service of fifteen pence rent 
per annum* 

And by an Inquisition taken at Lichfield, before 
Adamar de Lichfield, the. king's escheator, 20th day 
after the feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross, 
iy Richard II it appears, that Thomas Aston, knt. 
senior, had licence; granted to appropriate two mes- 
suages, one toft, eight acres of land, one of meadow, 
and five of pasture, and two shillings rents of Richard 
de Alrewich, with divers others two shillings rents, 
&C. amounting to 21 shillings; ami a .moiety of three 
messuages, three acres of meadow, and one of pasture, 
in Walshall, Rushall, Caldemore, Gorscote, and Al- 
derwick, held of the earl of Warwick by unknown 
services, to found a chantry in the said church; and 
for Robert Mareshall, then chaplain, and his succes- 
sors, to celebrate mass therein for the fraternity of 
the gild of St John the Baptist, forever, in part of 
the satisfaction of ten mercats of land and annual rents, 
held of the king, &c. 

This was confirmed by the king's royal licence, 
dated at Westminster, November 4, 20 Richard II. 
and the vr.lue of it is therein expressed to be five 
marks. 

Richard II. also granted a licence, dated at West- 
minster, October 13, in the 15th year of his reign, 
to Roger Hillary, knt. to found another chantry, and 
to appropriate two messuages, thirty-six acres of land, 

v 



J4 

acres of meadow, and two shilling? rent, with the 
appurtenances in Walshall, Shelfield, and Rushall, 
for a chaplain to celebrate daily mass, &c. at the altar 
of the blessed Mary, in the church of All Saints, 
Walshall, for the health of the said Roger while living, 
and for his soul after death, and for the souls of his 
ancestors, and all the faithful deceased.* 

The king likewise grants a licence, in the 26th 
of his reign, to Thomas Mollesley and Henry Flaxale, 
to found another chantry for two chaplains to cele- 
brate daily mass at the altar of St. John the Baptist, 
in the parish church of St. Mary of Walshall, in the 
county of Stafford, for the good estate of the king, 
and his beloved consort the queen of England, and 
William Marchion, earl of Suffolk, and Isabel hie 
wife, whilst living, and for their souls after death; 
and for the souls of Henry, late duke of Warwick, 
and their predecessors and successors; also for the 
brethren and sisters of the gild of St. John the Baptist 
in Walshale, and for the souls of all the faithful de- 
parted. Dated at Westminster, April 26. 

By another inquisition, taken at Stafford, before 
William de Walshale, the king's escheator in this 
county, the last day of October, 5 th of Henry IV. 
it appears that Thomas Aston of Heywood, knight, 
had licence to appropriate to the same purpose 4 mes- 
suages, 18 acres of land, 4| of meadow, 11 acres of 
pasture, one of wood, and one of moor, and 7s. rent, 

* In origin' de anno xv« regis Ric'is'c'i, iat' gross' fines, ro tula 
slviii*. 



35 

with the appurtenances in Walshale, Rushale, Aller- 
wich, Barre, Ruggeley, Esynton, Bromley Regis, 
Fynche9pade, Parva Stonhale, Norton super Cannock, 
and Aston Juxta Colfeld, in part of the 7 mercats of 
laud, &c. before-mentioned. And that one messuage, 
9 acres of land, S of pasture, 1| of meadow, and one 
of wood, with the appurtenances in Walshale, of the 
above, were held of the earl of Warwick in free bur- 
gage by service of paying to the said earl (id. rent per. 
annum, fur all services, &c. And that the said earl 
held them of the king in capite as parcel of his manor 
of Walshale, and worth per annum 25 shillings. Also 
that one acre of pasture, and half an acre of meadow, 
with appurtenances in Rushale, were held of William 
de Rushale, as of his manor of Rushale, by service of 
paying him three pence halfpenny. And that the said 
William held that manor, with appurtenances, of 
William Walshale, by service of one-fourth part of 
a knight's fee; and that he held it ultimately of the 
king in capite by the same service. Which acre and 
half were worth per annum, 15 pence. Also that 
two acres of pasture in Allerwich and Barre were. 
held of William de Birmyncham by service of seven 
pence halfpenny, and worth per annum lid. clear. 
And that the said William held them ultimately of 
the king in capite by unknown services. 

Item, that 1 messuage, 5 acres of land, 1£ of 
meadow, 2 of pasture, and 1 of more, and 7s. rent, 
with appurtenances, in Aston and Little Stonal afore- 
said, where held of John le Strange by service of 7s. 
rent to him and his heirs, who held them of the kin$ 



36 

in capite as parcel of his manor of Shenston, worth 
per annum 9s. clear. 

Also, that 1 messuage and 3 acres of land, &c, 
in Ruggeley and Norton aforesaid, were held of the 
bishop of Chester by service of paying him and his 
successors 2s. 9d. per annum ; which bishops held 
them of the king in capite as parcel of their manors 
of Ruggeley and Cannock, worth per annum 7s. 2d, 
clear. 

Likewise that one acre of pasture in Essingtou was 
held of John Swynforton for lfd. who held it of John 
de Sutton, lord of Dudley, who held it of the king 
in capite as parcel of his barony of Dudley, and worth 
per annum 23d. clear. 

Also that one messuage, one acre of land, and one 
of pasture, in Fynchespade, with the appurtenances, 
were held of the prior of Sonde wall, by service of 23d. 
and were worth per annum 3s. od. They also say 
that, over and above the aforesaid donation, the said 
Thomas i\ston, and his heirs, were possessed of the 
manor of Little Heywode, with appurtenances, one 
messuage, six carucates of land in Over Longdon, 
which he held of the bishop of Chester by service of 
half a knight's fee, and worth per annum xls. clear. 

This donation was afterwards confirmed by the 
king's letters patent, dated at Westminster, Feb. 7, 
the 5th of Henry IV. in which it is further expressed 
to be worth 48s. Sd. clear per annum. 



37 



Another confirmation by the same king is also 
dated at Tuttebury castle, Sept. 9, in the same year, 
ami concludes, after a repetition of all the former, 
that licence was granted to the aforesaid Thomas de 
Aston, sen. and William Walshale, esq. Richard 
Baxter of Walshale, and Richard Brid of Walshale, 
guardians of the above fraternity, that they should 
grant lands, tenements, and rents, &e. to the valur of 
10 marks per annum, to Henry Wynde, chaplain, 
and his successors, to celebrate mass in the church 
aforesaid for the good estate of the masters and guar- 
dians of the said fraternity for the time being, and for 
all and each of the brothers and sisters of the same 
whilst living, and for their souls after their departure 
from this life, as well as for those of the same frater- 
nity lately slam at the battle of Salop, and all the 
faithful deceased for ever.* 

M When the duke of Northumberland was lord of 
Walsall, he received divers chief rents and services 
out of divers chantry lands within the manor, as parcel 
of the seigniory of Walsall, until the statute of 1 Edw. 
VI. made for the dissolving of chantries, by which 
statute the rents and services thereof are reserved to 
the lord ; but, the tenure being extinct, he hath no- 
thing but the chief rents. Queen Mary and queen 
Elizabeth afterwards granted to several persons all the 
•aid chantry lands."f 



* Cbartulary of Walsall in Brit. Mus.nt sup. 
t Mr. Curtis's old MS. ut sup. 



ss 

Amongst the pensions paid in 1553 to incumbents 
of chantries, &c the following are here recorded : — 

Walsall, Aston's chantry. To William Ridway 
and Sampson Borne, incumbents, £6. each. 

Hillary's chantry. To Richard Harte, £5. 13s. 4d. 
Thomas Borne, Richard Parker, and Richard Brad- 
ley, incumbents, £b. each. 

Teuxall chantry. To Edward Hill, incumbent, 
£6. 

Vernon's and Bernard's chantry. To Thomas 
Dobson, incumbent, £6* 

The patronage of this vicarage has been some time 
in the lords of the manor. 

The following is the best list of vicars I have been 
able to obtain: — 

William Ward signs the parish register as vicar in 
1571. 

Thomas Byrdall, M. A. whose name as minister of 
Walsall is on a table of benefactions set up iu jo'5-l, 
died in April, 166Q. There are two books written by 
him ; one called, " A Glimpse of God ;" the other is 
a volume of eighteen sermons, preached in Walsall 
church. The first was printed in 1660, with a dedica- 
tion to sir Thomas Wilbraham and the lady Elizabeth 

• Willis's History of Abbies, kc, rol. II. p. 831. 



;J9 

his wife, by a clergyman named W. Gearing. In 
this dedication it is mentioned that Mr. Byrdall was 
presented to this living by sir Thomas's grandfather, 
sir Richard. The volume of Sermons was printed in 
1666, and dedicated as before mentioned ; to this is 
prefixed a funeral Discourse, by Anthony Burgess, 
minister of Sutton Coldfield, in which the age of the 
deceased is supposed to be 55. I presume he was 
inducted before the troubles, and that, when the 
ordinance passed to abolish the Liturgy, he laid it 
aside, and took the covenant. Whether he re-assum- 
ed the Common-Prayer after May 1660, I cannot say ; 
but his death happening four months before the act of 
Uniformity took place, prevented his being ejected 
for non-conformity, if he had then persisted in it. He 
was succeeded by 

Richard Bourn, minister, 1662. 

John Moss, vicar 1708, died 1733, and was buried 
in the North chancel. He was succeeded by 

Robert Felton, who was vicar March 16, 1751—2, 
when the first brick in the new burial ground in Wind- 
mill-field was laid. He died 1769, eet. 64, and was 
buried near the vestry. 

His successor, John Darvvall, died 1780, and was 
interred in a vault in the new burying- ground. He 
was succeeded by 

The late vicar, the rev. Rutter, who, dying 

1796, was succeeded by 

The present vicar, the rev. P. Pratt. 



40 

^Though there are no traces of Saxon architecture 
about this church, yet it is certainly a fabric of < 
siderable antiquity, but much modernized in front by 
various repairs. The whole is a spacious and lofty 
building, rather singular in its appearance, being in 
the form of a cross, the transept of which is composed 
by large side chapels, whose roofs lie East and West, 
parallel to the body of the church. Tbe tower, 
which is situated at the South-west angle of the West 
front, is strong, plain, and far from inelegant, being 
built with coarse lime-stone, on which a new spire 
was erected since the year 1775, when a set of eight 
good bells were put up by Mr. Rudhall, of Gloucester; 
the weight of the tenor being above £3 hundred, and 
the key-note E flat. The inscriptions round the 
bells are, 

1. " When us you ring, we/11 sweetly sing." 

2. " Fear God, honour the king." 

3.7 

>" Prosperity to this parish." 

5. " The rev. Mr. John Darwall, vicar." 

6. " Thomas Rudhall, Gloucester, founder." 

7. " Thomas Hector, Edward Licet, Thomas 
Overton, Deykin Hemming, church-wardens." 

8. " I to the church the living call, 

And to the grave do summon all." 

Under the chancel is a remarkable arch-way of 
massy Gothic workmanship, which is only a common 
passage through the East part of the church-yard. 



41 

The internal dimensions of the church are as fol- 
low : — Length of the middle aile 92 feet, breadth 22 
feet 1 inch. South aile, with the Maids' chapel, 
length the same as the nave, breadth 22 feet. St. Ca- 
tharine's chapel 27 feet long, and 17 feet 2 inches in 
breadth. North aile, same length as the body, 
breadth 20 feet 8 inches. St. Clement's chapel 34 
feet 8 inches in length, and 17 feet 2 inches in breadth. 
Length of the chancel 52 feet and a half, breadth 19 
feet. On each side of this chancel are eleven stalls, 
very entire; the seats of which, being lifted up, exhi- 
bit a series of grotesque figures, curiously caived in 
basso-relievo, no two of which are alike. Over the 
communion-table is a large painting, representing the 
Last Supper. 

The arms of the Beauchamps, Hillarys, &c. for- 
merly in the windows, are now no more. And tlie 
monuments belonging to the latter family, of which 
there are drawings in Dugdale's Visitation, in the 
Heralds' College, are either destroyed, or hid by 
modern pews. The following description of them is 
by Wirley, in his Church Notes 1597, and Dugdale 
in his MS.* 

" In this church, towards the South part, resteth 
a fayre and curious monument, with an alabaster 
figure of one of the Hilaries, leaning his head on one 
of his hands, as if he were half rising, with one of his 
legs rising, answerable; his shield on his left arm; 

* C. 36, p. 32, in the College of Arms. 
G 



i-2 

and upon Ins body wrought flower de lyces and cross^ 
crosslets very exactly. 

" The figure of the portraitures in brasse, and 
epitaph upon a tomb of gray marble standing towards 
the North side of this church. 

" En terre sount retournes mousi 1- Roger Hillary, 

cheif justice del' 
Comen Bank, & Katharine sa feme jadis nomez. r 
Jesu de lour Almes eitz merci pitee se que pur 
lour almes pater noster et Ave Maria dyra 
sys vynts jours de pardon." 

Arms: 1. " In a plain bordure three fleurs de liz 
between six cross-crosslets fitchee." 
2. " Two lions passant." 

Another thus inscribed: 

" Orate pro animabus Hugonis Hextale, et 
Isabella? uxoris ejus qui quidam Hugo obiit. .. ." 

Arms. 1. " Quarterly, 1 and 4 Gules, a bend 
Arg ; 2 and S Sable, a fleur de leuce Arg." 

2. The same, impaling " Sable, a chevron engrail- 
ed, between three owls Arg." 

On another : 

" Orate pro animabus W'mi Hextale, et 
Margaretae et Johanna uxor'." 

Arms, the same as before, impaling " Party per 
pale and per chevron." 



43 

Another thus : 

" Orate pro animabus Ricardi Petett, et 
Margarets uxoris ejus, etJoh'nis Petett." 

Arms. " A chevron between three bugle horns." 

The following arms were in the windows: 

1. Quarterly 1 and 4 chequy Or and B, a chevron 
Arg.; 2 and 3 Gules, afess between six cross-crosslets 
•Or. (Beauchamp. J 

2. Beauchamp, impaling Gu. seven mascles Or. 
(Ferrers of Groby.J 

3. Arg. three fleur de liz between six cross cross- 
lets Sable ( Hillary J, impaling Gu. fretty Or. 

4. Hillary, with the bordure Gu. 

5. The same, with a label of three points Gu. 

6. Sa. a chevron engrailed between three owls A. 

7. A. a chevron indented Sa. on a chief of the 
first three martlets of the 2d. 

8. Quarterly, Or and Gu. a fleur de liz, Sa. in the 
first, on a bordure Sa. nine bezants. 

9. Sable, a fess between three lozenges Arg. 
(Aston.) 

10. Quarterly, 1st, 3. a lion passant, over all a 
chevron Or. The other three brolven. 

Besides the coats before noticed, there are two 
still visible on the lower part of the pulpit, cut in 
stone, viz. 1. Beauchamp, impaling Ferrers. 2. 
Hillary. Also eight shields on the line old alabaster 
font, which is of an octagonal form, and richly sculp- 
tured. 



44 

1. Stafford and Beauchamp quarterly. 

2. A chevron between three owls. (This is like 
the arms of Prescot, and of sir C. Burton.) 

3. Quarterly, 1 and 4, a chevron, a Hon passant 
guardant, in chief three lozenges. (This last is like 
the arms of Blewit.) 

4. Quarterly, and , a fleur de 

lis in the first, all within a bordure. 

6 a fess engrailed, three martlets. 

6 impaling a chevron. 

7 and 8, blank. 

On a tablet against the North-west pillar of the 
middle aile. 

Near this pillar 

lieth the body 

of Thomas Nicholls, 

late of Birmingham, 

apothecary, 

who departed this life 

Sept. 17, 1711, 

in the 48th year of his age. 

He wished that all 

who read this inscription 

would, in time of health, 

often think of death, 

and prepare for it. 

On the floor on the North aile : 

In memory of 
John Grosvenor, esq. 



45 

who departed this life 

the 4ih day o! October, 

173'i, aged (>3. 

Against the North-east corner of the church is a 
small marb'.e, thus inscribed: 

Near this place lieth the body of Judith, the 

wife of Francis Best, late of th'.s town, gent. 

daughter of William Feme, of Crackmarsh, 
in this county, esq. who, having lived 

peaceably and lovingly with her husband and 
neighbours twenty-two years and upwards, 
leaving behind her one daughter, departed 

this life the fourteenth day of January, lo'8(5-7. 

Bene mori est bene vivere. 

Ora, et abi. 

Against the opposite wall, going into the vestry, 
is another mural marble, thus: 

Near this place lie the remains of 

Robert Felton, vicar of this parish near six and 

thirty years, born and educated at Newport in 

the county of Salop, from whence he went to 

Oxford, and was some time a commoner of 

Magdalene hall, where he took a bachelor's 

degree; from thence he retired into Shropshire, 

where he was sent for by the right honourable Mary 

countess of Bradford, who generously gave him 

this living, without his knowledge or application. 

Ob. 99 April, mdcclxix. retat 64. 



4ti 

Iii lite window of St. Catherine's chapel is pair of 
St. Catherine in painted glass, with her wheel. 

In St. Clement's chapel are several niches, but 
without any figures. 

In the same chapel is the following-. 

in memory of Tho. Pashley, late of this town, who 
died in the year 1741, aged 31. 

Be pleased and thankful in what state thou art, 
Act well and chearful thy allotted part, 
Enjoy the present hour, be thankful for the past. 
And neither fear nor wish the approaches of the last. 

Here are spacious galleries, East, West, North, 
and South. In the East gallery is a good organ, 
built by Green of London, 1773. The old organ 
was purchased by Mr. George Hill, for =£19 10s, 
who built a house to contain it, but sold it to the 
inhabitants of Stow-market, Suffolk, for their church, 
when it how stands, repaired and improved. The 
old church-yard, or cemetery, being much too small 
for the parish in 1756', a spacious piece of ground, 
neatly walled round, on the South side of the town, 
was consecrated for the interment of the dead, and 
seems already very amply furnished. At an agreeable 
distance beyond this stands the neat vicarage, " bo- 
somed high in tufted trees." It has been lately 
enlarged, rough cast, &c. and, being finely shaded 
with trees, is a delightful rural feature in the land- 



47 

scape; which, when viewed from Warwick fields, 
North-west, or another eminence North-east of the 
town, few places can exhibit the like scenery. 



An account of charitable 'gifts belonging to the 
Poor of the Borough and Foreign of Walsall, 
taken from the several Tables in the Church, set 
up in 1654. 

John Wolverston, gent, by will, dated October 3, 
1670, gave the rents of his house in Walsall, in the 
tenure of Edward Spink, to be yearly distributed 
to the poor of the borough of Walsall every Good 
Friday for ever. 

Roger Hinton, of Rickerseoat, in the county of 
Stafford, gent, by will, dated February 5, I6S4, gave 
to the poor of Walsall, £p yearly out of his lands 
in Rickerseoat, to be distributed by the minister 
and churchwardens for ever. 

The said Spink's house being f JOs. per annum, 
which said sum is now charged on a house in the 
tenure of Andrew Rooker. 

Humphrey Pershouse, gent, by will, dated February 
11, 1G97, gave to the poor of Walsall ia yearly, for 
ever (viz ) 40s. to the borough, and i.3 to the foreign, 
to be paid to the poor inhabitants every Christmas-da} , 
bv the vicar and church-wardens. 



43 

William Syvern, by will, gave to the poor of Wal- 
sall o£l00; and several tenements in Birmingham are 
settled for the payment of £ yearly tor ever, to the 
poor aforesaid, which deed is in the custody of John 
Perkes, Richard Moseley, John Blackham, Thomas 
Proper, and Simon Bibb, trustees. 

Robert Moseley, by will, gave to the poor of Wal- 
sall .... shillings yearly for ever, to be distributed by 
the vicar and churchwardens. 

Mr. William Parker gave towards the maintenance 
of a minister at Bloxwich chapel, 20s. yearly for ever, 
which the merchant taylors pay. 

He gave also to set the poor of Walsall parish on 
work, o£200. 

He gave also c£50 to repair Bloxwich chapel, and 
C0o£ to repair the chapel house, and <£ 150 to repair 
the highways about Walsall, Rushall, Gorsgate, and 
Bloxwich. 

Sir William Craven, knt. gave .£50; Mr. John 
Parker of 30; Mr. Robert Farker =£20; to make new 
seats in Walsall Church. 

Mr. John Parker gave to the poor of Walsall parish 
and other uses, to be paid out of the manor of Lang- 
thorne, in Yorkshire, £20 per annum to the uses fol- 
io wins:. 



49 

£. s. d. 

For four sermons to be yearly preached 
in Bloxwich chapel, 10s. a sermon 2 

For two sermons in Walsall church, 10s. 
a sermon t . .. 100 

For two sermons in Rushall church, 10s, 
a sermon 100 

For the repairs of Bloxwich chapel, 
yearly 1 6 8 

To the poor of Great Bloxwich, Little 
Bloxwich, Harden, Gorsgate, and Cole- 
poole 4 17 10 

To the poor of Shelfield, Rushall, Daw- 
End, Wood-End, Caldmore, Walsall town's- 
end, and other houses in lanes and places in 
the Foreign 4 17 9 

To the poor of Walsall borough . . . . 4 17 9 

Mr. Robert Parker gave 



oo rough \ 



6 13 4 
To the poor of Walsall boi 

To Great Bloxwich .. G 13 4 

And to the rest of the hamlets in Wal- 
sall parish G 13 4 

This is paid by the merchant taylors of London ; 
they have <£400 in their hands to buy lands in Stafford- 
shire, for the payment of it yearly, in December, 
for ever. 

He gave £5 per annum to maintain one to play 
on the organ in Walsall church. The merchant tay- 
lors have =£100 for the payment of this £b per annum. 
Since the organs were demolished. 

ii 



50 

This £5 by a decree in Chancery, is to be paid in 
bread to the poor of Walsall Borough and Foreign; 
to wit,,£l 13s. 4d. a year to the Borough, and £3 6s. 8d. 
to the Foreign. 

Mr. Robert Parker gave a close at Bloxwich, called 
Lee Hay, to the intent that £4 of the rent thereof 
should be distributed every year quarterly, to the poor 
of Great Bloxwich; and lo employ the overplus for 
the maintenance of a clock at Bloxwich chapel. 
Nicholas Parker is tenant to the close. The feof- 
ment whereby it was given is in the town-chest. 

Mr. Nicholas Parker, by his will, gave 40s. yearly, 
towards the repair of the parish church of Walsall, to 
ease the poor inhabitants of their levies, out of Peakers 
which Miv Hawe has upon that condition. 

He gave also 20s. per annum to the poor of Great 
Bloxwich and Harden, 50s. to the poor of Rushall, 
and 40s. per annum towards the repair, of the parish 
church of Walsall, which Nicholas Parker, his kinsman, 
is to pay out of his lands in Bloxwich, Rushall, 
and Aklridge, at Christide and Easter, at even 
portions. 

Whereas Walsall was antiently a corporation by 
prescription, Mr. Nicholas Parker gave .£100 to 
procure a charter for the better government of the 
town. 



51 

Mr. Henry Stone, by his will, gave £30 in money, 
to be lent to poor tradesmen for two years, to have 
.£3, £4, or £5 a piece, but none above £ 5. 

He gave £3 per annum to maintain a lecture in 
Walsall church, the first Tuesday in every month. 

He gave £13. per annum to poor householders in 
Walsall Borough and Foreign, one half on Good 
Friday, and the other at Christide. 

He gave £7. 10s. per annum to buy twelve coats 
for twelve poor men, and twelve gowns for twelve 
poor women, against Christide, yearly, forever. This 
only for the poor of the borough. . 

He gave £5. 4s. per annum to distribute 24 penny 
loaves every Sabbath day in Walsall church, to the 
24 poor people to whom he had given coats and 
gowns. 

He gave £3. per annum towards the repairs of the 
parish church of Walsall and gallery, which he caused 
to be built at his own charge. 

He gave 40s. per annum to be spent on a banquet 
at yearly meetings for his heirs and trustees and their 
heirs, who are to meet once a year to see his charita- 
ble uses performed; and, as one of the overseers die, 
the survivors are to chuse another in his place, thai 
the whole number of overseers may be supplied lot- 
ever. His nephew, Henry Stone, esq. is to pay all 



5-2 



the said legacies out of lands which his uncle gf.ve 
him. 

Mr. Richard Stone, of Walsall, gave 20s. yearly 
out of a close in Bentley, tailed Park-Brook-Leasow, 
to buy two poor people coals against Christide. Wil- 
liam Rock liath the lands upon that condition. 

He gave 20s. yearly out of another close called 
Bentley Leasow, to buy two other coals for two other 
poor people against Christide, and 6s. year'y to be 
spent, on the mayor and four of his brethren, when 
they should inert to see his legacies performed, 

Mr. Richard Stone, of Oaldmoro, gave 8s. 8d. 
to be distributed in bread yearly to the poor of Wal- 
sall Borough, out of Palfry-Grcen-Leasow, which 
Henry Stone, esq. now hath, in the 11th year of 
Henry VIII. 

John Harper, esq. founded an alms-house in 
Walsall for four poor people to dwell in, and gave 
towards the maintenance of the said poor people, two 
acres and a half of land in Windmill Field, and one 
croft lying in Caldmore. 

Mr. George Ilawe, -1 and o P. and M. gave a croft 
at Walsall town's-end to the use of the poor people 
dwelling in the said alms-house. 

Mr. William Ridware gave a pasture in Essing- 

lon, called Priests crofts, to ieofecs, to pay the poor, 

[ impotent, and aged people of Great and Little Blox- 



ii, (]?,. s>\.', to the poor of the alms-house fta. upon 
every Good Friday, yearly, forever; and Is. 4d. to 
the poor of i 

Michael Shawe gnve .-f'J. yearly, to the poor of 
Walsall Borough, on Good. Friday, to be paid outof a 
Close which now Mr. Wbllasbott hath. 

Mr. Thomas v> • : >b gave £\. yearly bo the poor of 
Walsall Borough, out of a close at Sheffield, which 

now John Bidding hath. 

Mr. Thomas Gorway gave £Q. to be yearly paid 
put of his lands in Ilushall and Broinwich, now in 
Mr. Thomas flawe's hands of Halhcrton, to the 
poor of Walsall Borough and Foreign, on Good 
Friday. 

Mr. John Ctirteys gave £1. 6s. gd. out of two 
meadows called Swaggers Meadows, to the poor of 
Walsall Borough, viz. 13s. <ld. on Good Friday, and 
13s. 4d. on Chnstide Eve, which Christopher Adam- 
BOn and William Ebe now have. 

John Dee gave to the poor of Walsall Borough out 
i close at Wood VahI, £1. 9b. yearly, which closfi 
George r rudilmau holdeth of the town. 

Mr. John Bolton, and Alice his wile, by dei d, 

/dated the 1st of May, Lie. gave out of his lands 

in Walsall, 10s. yearly, to be distributed on Good 
Friday to thirty poor widows living in Walsall Borough. 
Mr. PefSdlOttSe llatti these hnds awd must pay it, by 



54 

deed, dated August S, IS Car. remaining in the 
custody of Mr. Buraea of Lichfield ; he hath under- 
taken the payment of it yearly. 

Mr. John Havre, by deed, gave Molefuids to feof- 
fees, the rem to be employed to buy, weekly, 28 
loaves of white bread, to be distributed eveiy Sabbath 
d3y in the church, viz. to the poor people Co loaves, 
to the vicar two, and to the clerk one, 

Mr. John Lyddatt gave £10. in money, to be lent 
gratis to poor people, at the discretion of the mayor, 
who hath the dis; f it. 

. William Wheat g \ in money to be lent 

gratis lo ten poor men, viz. 40s. a-p.eee for three years, 
and the Block to continue for ever. Mr. Stone hath 
the disposing of this twenty pounds. 

He gave also £9fk to buy laud, the rent whereof is 
to be given for the preaching of four sermons yearly in 
Walsall church. There is a close at Five Lanes Ends 
bought with it. 

Mr. John Peffcbo yearly 

the poor of the 
Foreign, to be distributed on Good Friday and Chris- 
tide by even portions. B little houses 
at the Stairhead for two poor people to dwell in rent- 
free for ever. 

Mr. John Wollaston, by his will, ay: 
bis heirs should yearly, for ever, distribute the rent of 



55 

a house in the church-yard to the poor, viz. to four 
poor people in the alms-house, 2s. on Good Friday, 
and the residue of the rent to the poor of Walsall 
Borough at Christide. 

He appointed that his heirs for ever should main- 
tain and keep the little house in Hall-lane in repair, 
and to let some poor body dwell in it rent-free, for 
ever. 

Cicily Haynes, widow, by her will, dated the 11th 
of November, ](i48, gave 10s. a year out of a close at 
Wolverhampton, called Chapel Leasow, to be distri- 
buted yearly upon St. Andrew's day to thirty poor 
widows in Walsall Borough. This is to be paid by 
John Walton and his heirs after the decease of her 
brother Thomas Hawe. 

Samuel Murrey left 8s. per annum to be distributed 
to sixteen poor men of the Foreign of Walsall at 
Christmas. The vicar trustee. 

Gifts to the Charity School of Walsall. 

Mr. John Whittingham, in his last will, hath thi* 
paragraph, viz. I give the reversion of £200. after my 
wife's decease, to Whittingham and Philadelphia 
Smith ; and after their decease to the charity school of 
Walsall for ever. This sum is reposed in the hands 
of the trustees, viz. the magistrates of this corpo- 
ration. 

Mr. John Harrison, by will, gave £o. for I he use 
abovesaid. 



56 

John Barber, bucklemaker, by his last will, gave 
£10. to the boys' and £10. to the girls' charity- 
school. 

Mr. John Hawe, gent, by his last will, gave £10. 
to the boys' and £10. to the giris' charity-school. 

BLOXWICH 

is situate about two miles North-west from Walsall, 
to which it has a chapel of ease. In Domesday , 
Book it is said the king held Blockeswic then a mem- 
ber of the manor of Wednesbury. There is a wood 
three furlongs in length, and one in breadth, and id 
Skelfeld one hide of waste appertaining to the said 
manor.* Erdeswic confounds it with Blecheswortb, 
which Roger de Montgomery held 20 Conqueror. t 
In the Magna Britannia this place is confounded with 
West Bromwich.J Sir Simon Degge, in his Addi- 
tions to Erdeswick, says, " Sir Gilbert Wakeringe, of 
Rickmandsworth, in the county of Hertford, who 
kept a great flutter in this county in the beginning of 
king James's time, died December 2.3, 15 James, 
seised of a capital messuage, and demesne, and three 
other messuages, and divers lands in the two Blox- 
wiches, &c. and of the manors of Essingdon, and 
Womborne, in the county of Stafford, &c, 

* See vol. l. Gen. Appen. p. iii. 
f Erdeswick's Survey, p. J45. 
j Vol.V. p. 13. 



57 

" All which lie left to John Wakeringc, son of 
James Wakeringe, son of Edward Wakeringe, father 
of Gilbert, forty years of age."* 

" Sir Gilbert Wakeringe's arms, Ermine, on a chief 
Azure, three lions rampant, Or. This should be a 
city coat by the chief."* 

This place is now inhabited principally by manu- 
facturers in the sadlers' ironmongery, &c. 

THE CHAPEL 

is a small donative in the gift of the inhabitants. 
The present minister is the Rev. James Davenport, 
D. D. of Stratford-upon-Avon, whose income from 
it is about £AO a year. His curate is the Rev. 
William Brownell, of Walsall, who informs me, 
that in 1792 the number of Christenings were fifty- 
nine, burials fifty. 

There was a brief for re-building this chapel, 
]794, charge £1,207 15s. Od. which new fabrick 
has been since finished; it therefore contains nothing 
worthy notice. 

The following inscription is on a gravestone in 
the burying-ground here. 

To the memory of Samuel Wilks, late of this 
parish, locksmith, who died the oth of November, 

* MS. penes me,etInquisitioues post mortem. 

I 



58 

1764. Reader! if thou art an inhabitant of (Treat 
Bloxwich, know, That tire, dust beneath thy feet 
(when overseer of the poor of this parish,) was im- 
prisoned in thy cause, because he refused to sur- 
render thy rigltts, and lo submit to an arbitrary 
mandate, by which it was in-tended to incorporate 
the poors' rates of the Foreign with those of the 
Borough, and thereby to compel the Foreign to the 
payment of a greater proportion of parochial taxes 
than is warranted by law. — His resistance was at- 
tended with success. — The benefit is thine. 

SHELFIELD, 

Above noticed from Domesday, by the name cf 
Scelfeld, was purchased by William Glascott, 22d 
December, 17 Charles, of sir William Skelfington, 
and Richard his son, in these words, " All that 
manor or lordship of Shellield, and Gregory Shel- 
lon's cottage, chief rents and services, &e. for £21. 
July 10th, in the 10th of the same reign, sir Richard 
Wilbraham bought it of sir William Glascott for 
£24."* 

BESCOT, 

or, as it is called in old writings, Berkenscot, &c, 
is an ancient manor on the South-west side the 
parish, in the road to Wednesbury. It is recorded 
amongst the lands of the king in Domesday Book, 

* Old MS. in possebsiou of Mr. Curtis, ut supra. 



59 

In Bresmundscete is one carucate of land, which was 
waste.* The first possessors we find of it were the 
Hillary 8, whose arras and monumental inscription 
have been lately noticed in Walsall church. In 
the 4th of Henry the Fourth, it was certified, that 
sir Roger Hillary, knt. died without issue, and 
that ho held certain lands of the king by grand 
serjeaut ry; viz. to look after the Hay of Ashwood, 
amongst which, he held of ihe earl of Warwick 
this manor of Bescote, and lands in Bloxwich, &c. 
likewise the manor of Alrewich, of the heirs of 
Robert Stapleton, as will there more fully appear; 
and the manor of Fisherwick of the bishop of Ches- 
ter, by a knight's fee, as before shewn, f &c. all 
which he held, together with his wife Margaret, to 
themselves and their heirs; but for want of issue male 
they were to go to sir John Saer de Rochford, knt. 
and his heirs male. It is further stated that Mar- 
garet, the widow of this Roger, at his death, en- 
tered upon these lands; and that the said Roger died 
1 Henry IV. s. p. and that the said John Saer, ret. 
40, son of Joan, one of the sisters of the aforesaid 
Roger, and Rlizabeth, wife of sir John Russel, knt. 
St. iO, daughter of Elizabeth, his other sister, were 
his next heirs. + 

This manor afterwards belonged to the family 
of Mountfort. William Mountfort, knt, died ihe 

* See vol. I. Gen. Appci-d. p, iii, 

t -See vol. I. p. %<]'>. 

t Huathjich #SS. No.- 



00 

6th of December, 31 Henry VI. leaving sir Bald- 
win Montfort seised of this manor of Bescot. He 
died 11 Edward IV; heaving a son and heir, sir 
Simon Montfort, who was attainted 11 Henry VII. 
He left issue by Anne, daughter of Richard Verney, 
of Compton, knt. Thomas Mountfort, of Sutton 
(Wield, esq. 7 Hairy VII. who, by Elizabeth, 
daughter of John Greseley, of Drakelow, in the 
county of Derby, esq. left Simon Monntfort, of 
Kingshurst, in the county of Warwick, esq. 88 Henry 
VIII. who, by Ann, daughter of sir Ralph Longford, 
knt. his first wife, had issue Francis Mounttort, esq. 
I To died 1*90, leaving by Ann his wife, daughter 
and co-heir of William Willington, esq. William 
Monntfort, of Kingshurst, married to Ann, daugh- 
ter of Brian Fowler, of St. Thomas, near Stafford, 
whose son, sir Edward Mountfoit, knt. died 1633, 
leaving by Elizabeth, daughter of Valentine Browne, 
knt. Simon Montfort, of Bescot, esq. ^ whose son, 
Edward Montfort, esq. I suppose the last male heir 
of this ancient family, deceased in l(i<)l, leaving a 
daughter and heir, Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Har- 
ris, gent, as appears by an indenture 10th October, 
16.01, between them, on the one part, and Thomas 
Ty< r, esq. Humfrey Persehouse, gent. Moreton 
Slaney, gent., and Jonas Slaney, gent, of the other 
parti purporting to be a deed for the uses of a fine 
of this Bescott hall estate. The above Thomas 
Harris dying possessed of this estate, &c. his widow 
carried it in marriage to Mr. Jonas Slaney, as appears 
by an indenture dated 20th January, 1717, between 



61 

the said Mr; Jonas Slaney and Elizabeth, his wife, 
widow and relict of the said Thomas Harris, deceased, 
and daughter and heir of Edward Mountfort, de- 
ceased, of the one part, and Thomas Poynts, gent, 
of the other, purporting to be a deed for the uses 
of a line of this estate, then about 507 acres. The 
affairs of the late Rev. Jonas Slaney, of Bescott hall, 
(who was many years an active magistrate for this 
county, and vicar of [lushall, as there noticed,) being 
much embarrassed, in pursuance of a decree in Chan- 
cery, the trustees sold to Mr. Richard Wdkes Bescott 
ball, manor and estate, for ,£3200. He resided here 
about six years, and in 1704 sold the same to the late 
Richmond Aston, esq. for =£1000. The motto which 
he had adopted; viz. Effodiuntur e tellure opes was 
very applicable to his circumstances, having obtained 
a large fortune from coal-mines at Tipton and that 
vicinity. 

He purchased the tithes from Mr. Dolphin for 
.1 lot). The site of the antieut house of the Hillarys 
and Mountforts is what is now called the moat gar- 
den, a considerable space of ground, encompassed 
by a large square moat, over which is a bridge, 
finely shaded with trees, as represented in the an- 
nexed view, with the back part of the house, built 
by one of the Slaneys, whose anus were over the 
iron gates in front; thus, " Gules a bend between 
three martlets Or;" Crest, a semee bird volant; 
the same as borne by another branch of this family, 
Moreton Aglionhy Slaney, of Shiftnsll, esq. and 



#2 

his brother, the Rev. Richard Slaney, vicar of 
Pen bridge, &c. 

Mr. Aston began to make the present alterations 
of this house, a short time before his death, which 
have been since finished, according to his plan, by 
his widow, who resides here with her family; the 
iron gates, which stood close in front, are removed to 
the road, and the approach, grounds, &c. much im- 
proved, as represented in the lower part of the above 
plate. 

To the North of the Moat garden are two old 
pools, called Over Pool, 3 a. res, 1 rood, 31 perches. 
Great Pool, 3 acres, 2 roods, SO perches. 

Near this is Bescot Farm, purchased by Mr. Crow, 
from the Rev. Jonas Slaney; and Mrs. C. bought it 
in 1795, for about c£500. 

Mrs. Mary Slaney, second widow of Mr. Slaney, 
has a jointure of o£200 per annum, called the White 
house and estate, on the opposite side of the read 
from Bescott hall. • 

Dr. Plot tells us, at the village of Bescott was 
found a sort of earth or mud, which being stirred 
up seemed to shine like fire. One Mr. Jones riding 
with Captain Thomas Lane, in the night-time, casually 
fell into a ditch in Bescott grounds; and Mr. Lane 
endeavouring to help him out, they stirred the u ud 
and dirt pretty much, and therewith fouled their 



63 

gloves, bridles, and horses. Having recovered their 
horses, they observed, that upon all those things that 
the water and mud had touched there was a faint flame, 
like that of burnt brandy, which continued upon them 
for a mile's riding.* 

The Doctor also speaks of the pool at Bescot 
being stocked with eels, though none had ever been put 
in for breed or otherwise. f 

* Plot's Staffordshire, p. llG. 
f Ibid. p. 242. 



Having in the preceding pages extracted from 
Shaw's history of this county what relates to this 
parish, I shall proceed to give a copy of the Charter 
granted to the antient Corporation of this town, toge- 
ther with an account of the public edifices, copies of 
appointments of various public officers, and a great 
variety of other matter, in the arrangement of which, 
I must beg leave to request the indulgence of the 
reader for its defects. 



THE 

CIj urter 

OF THE 

CORPORATION 

OF 

WALSALL. 



CHARLES II. by the Grace of GO 3), of Eng- 
land, Scotland, France, and Ireland, King, 
Defender of the Faith, 6fC. To all to who>n 
these our present Letters shall come Greeting, 

WE have inspected the Inrollment of certain Letters 
Patent of our dear Father, Charles, late King 
of England, bearing Date at Westminster the 20th Day 
of July in the Third Year of his Reign, directed to the 
Mayor and Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign of 
IValsall, made and granted thus in the Patent Rolls of our 
Court of Chancery remaining of Record in these Wordy, 
(that is to flay) The King to all whom, &c. Greeting. 

Whereas the Borough or Village and Foreign oi' 
IValsall in our County of Stafford are of ancient Demesne 
of our Crown of England, and the said Village of fVatsall, 
ev the ancient Village of Merchants and Inhabitant's of 

K 



(36 

the snme, by the Name of the Mayor and Burgesses of 
the Village, &c. of Walsall in our County of Stqfford t 
from Time whereof the Memory of Man is not to be con- 
trary* have peaceably had and enjoyed divers Jurisdictions, 
Franchises, Liberties, Immunities, and Priviledges, as well 
by Prescription as by Reason of and Means of several 
Charters, granted, confirmed, and by Letters Patent of 
our Proprietors, or Predecessors Kings of England to 
them heretofore made. And whereas we are informed 
that certain Doubts and Questions have arisen, and may 
arise concerning certain Liberties of the Borough or 
Village and Foreign aforesaid, and thereupon our beloved 
Subjects, now Inhabitants of the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid, have humbly besought us, that we will give and 
extend to them our Munificence, royal Grace and Liberty, 
in that behalf: And that we, for the better Order and 
Government of the said Borough and Foreign, and the 
People of the same, and others there resorting to the said 
Inhabitants in one certain and undoubted Body Corporate, 
and Politic of new, to make, create, and restore, by which 
they may be known, We having graciously given Ear to 
the said Petition, and being willing that from henceforth 
for ever, there shall be and continue in the said Borough 
and Foreign, one certain and undoubted manner of and 
for the keeping of the Peace, good Order, and Govern- 
ment of the People there: And that the said Borough and 
Foreign be, and remain for ever hereafter, a Borough and 
Foreign of peace and Quietness, to the dread and terror 
of Wicked Offenders, and a Reward to the Good, and 
that our Peace and other Matters relating to Justice there, 
•without further delay be kept, hoping that if the said 
Inhabitants of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid and 
;• Successors shall by our more ample Grant enjoy 



67 

Liberties and Priviledges, they would assemble themselves 
more especially, readily, bravely, to pay the Service, 
which they shall be able to render to Us, our Heirs and 
Successors, being obliged thereto by our especial Grace, 
certain Knowledge, and mere motion, We have Willed, 
Ordained, Granted, and Constituted, and by these 
Presents for Us, our Heirs and Successors, do Will, 
Ordain, Constitute, Grant, and Declare, that 
the aforesaid Borough or Town of Walsall in the aforesaid 
County of Stafford shall be for ever hereafter a free 
Borough of itself, and that the Mayor and Burgesses of 
the Borough or Town of Walsall aforesaid, and also all 
and singular the Burgesses and Inhabitants of the Borough 
.or Town and Foreign of Walsall aforesaid, by whatsoever 
Name or Names they shall have heretofore been incorporate, 
or whether they have been heretofore incorporated or not, 
.and their Successors for ever hereafter be and shall be, 
by Virtue of these Presents, one Body Corporate and 
Politic in Deed, Fact, and Name, by the Name of theMayor 
and Commonalty of the Borough and Foreign of Walsall, 
in the County of Stafford: And by these Presents We 
have raised, made, ordained, constituted, confirmed and 
declared, for Us, our Heirs and Successors, that them, 
by the Name of the Mayor and Commonalty of the 
Borough and Foreign of Walsall in t\udCo\\\\iy of Stafford, 
be one Body Corporate and Politic, in Deed, Fact and 
Name, really and fully, and that they by the same Name 
have perpetual Succession: And that they, by the same 
Mayor and Commonalty of the Borough and Foreign of 
Walsall in the County of Stafford, be and shall be, in 
perpetual Time to come, Persons lit and capable in Law 
to have, perceive, receive and possess, Lands, Tenements, 
Liberties, IVmledges, Jurisdictions, Franchises and Here- 



08 



ditaments, of what Nature, Kind or Quality soever, tlieY 
shall be to them and their Successors in Fee and Perpetuity* 
and also Goods and Chattels, and whatsoever Things, of 
what Kind, Nature or Quality soever; they shall be also 
to give, grant, demise and assign, Lands, Tenements and 
Hereditaments, Goods and Chattels, and also to do and 
rxecute all and singular other Matters and Things, to 
be done and executed, by the Name aforesaid : And that 
by the same Name of Mayor and Commonalty of the 
Borough and Foreign of IValsalt in the County of Stafford) 
shall and may plead and be impleaded, answer and be 
answered, defend and be defended, in whatsoever Courts, 
Place or Places, and before whatsoever Judges and Justices 
or other Pert-ons and Oflieers of Us, our Heirs and Suc- 
cessors, in all Suite, Plaints, Pleas, Causes, Matters and 
Demands, real, personal or mixt whatsoever, as well 
spiritual as temporal, of whatsoever Kind, Nature or Qua- 
lity they be, in the same Manner and Fotm as our other 
Liege Subjects of our Kingdom of England, Persons lit 
and capable in Law, who shall and may plead and be 
impleaded, answer and be answered, defend and be de- 
fended, and have, obtain, receive, possess, give, grant 
and demise: And that the said Mayor and Commonalty 
of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid and their Successors 
shall have for ever a Common Seal for trying, and. 
transacting all Manner of Causes and Businesses whatsoever 
of their own and their Successors; and that it shall and 
may be lawful for the said Mayor and Commonalty of the 
Borough aforesaid and their Successors to break and 
change that Seal at their Will and Pleasure and, from 
Time to Time, to break, change and make anew, as to 
them shall seem fit to do or to be done. And We 
I'urther Will and by these Presents for Us, our Heirs 



69 

and Successors, do grant and ordain, that for ever here- 
after there may and shall be within the said Borough, one 
of the Principal, more approved and discreet of the 
Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, in Form 
in these Presents undermentioned, who shall and may be 
named a Mayor of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid ; 
und also there may and shall be within the said Borough 
and Foreign, twenty-four of the more approved and dis- 
creet Burgesses or Inhabitants of the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid, in Form also in Peseuts undermentioned to be 
elected, who shall and may be called the Capital Burgesses 
of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, which said Capital 
Burgesses shall and may be called the Common Council 
of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, and shall from 
Time to Time, be aiding and assisting the Mayor of the 
Borough and Foreign aforesaid for the Time being, in all 
Actions, Causes and Matters, in any wise whatsoever 
touchingor concerning the Borough and Foreign aforesaid. 
And We further Will and by these Presents, for Us, 
our Heirs and Successors, do grant to the aforesaid Mayor 
and Commonalty of the Borough and Foreign of Walsall 
aforesaid and their Successors, that the Ma\or and twenty- 
four of the Capital Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid and their Successors for the Time, or the major 
Part of them, whereof the Mayor for the Time being to be 
one, We being willing that they have and shall have 
full Power and Authority, in the Guild-Mall of the 
Borough aforesaid or other convenient Place within the 
said Borough, to asbemble and meet, to make, constitute, 
ordain and establish, from Time to Time, such reasonable 
Laws, Statutes and Ordinances whatsoever, which to them 
shall seem good, wholesome, profitable, honest and neces- 
sary, as shall appear to them in their sound Judgments for 



70 

the good Order and Government of the Burgesses, Arti- 
ficers and Inhabitants of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid 
for the Time being, and in what Manner or Oniet the 
naid Major and Capital Buigenses, and also ail and every 
Burgesses and Artificers, Inhabitants and Resi&nta of the 
Borough and Foreign aforesaid, for t\;e Time being, in 
their Trades and Businesses within the Borough and 
Foreign aforesaid and the Limits and Precincts thereof 
May have, bear and use, and further for the Public Good 
and common Utility and good Order of the Borough and 
Foreign aforesaid, and for supplying the said Borough and 
Foreign with Necessaries ; Aud also for the better pvc- 
serving, governing, disposing, letting aud demising Lands, 
Tenements, Possessions, Reversions and Hereditaments, 
to the said Mayor and Commonalty and their Successors 
given, granted aud assigned, and all other Matters and 
Things whatsoever to the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, 
or the Estates Bights or Interests, touching or in any 
wise concerning the same, that the said Mayor and twenty* 
four of the Capital Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid, for the Time being, or the major Pait of them, 
whereof the Mayor to be one, We Will that so often 
as any of the said Laws, Statutes and Ordinances, erected 
made, ordained or established in Form aforesaid, the like 
reasonable Pains, Penalties and Punishments, by impri- 
sonment of the Body, or by Fines aud Ainerciinents or 
either of them, upon all who offend against the said Laws, 
Statutes and Ordinances or any of them, or any other that 
shall or may be assessed or imposed, which to the said 
Mayor and Capital Burgesses for the Time being, or the 
major Part of them, shall seem to be reasonable and 
requisite as aforesaid; and also those Fines and Auierci- 
neats to be levied aod had, shall aud may be valid without 



71 

any impediments of Us, our Heirs mid Successors; and all 
and singular the Laws, Statutes and Ordinances to be made, 
We Will, shall be observed, under the Penalties in the 
same contained, nevertheless so that the same Laws, 
Statutes and Ordinances, Imprisonments, Fines and A mer- 
riments, be reasonable and not repugnant nor contrary 
to the Laws and Statutes acci'.siomed, or to the Laws of 
our Kingdom of England, And for the better execution 
of our said Grant in this behalf, We assign, nominate, 
constitute and make, and by these Presents, for Us, our 
Heirs and Successors, do assign* nominate, constitute and 
make our beloved William Wtbb, the present Mayor of 
the Borough aforesaid, to be the first and present Mayor 
of the Borough and foreign aforesaid; We Willing 
that the said JFUIium Webb shall be and continue in the 
Office of Mayor of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, 
from the making of these Presents until the Feast of St. 
Michael the Atchangel next following, and from the said 
Feast until one o her of the Capital Burgesses of the 
Borough and foreign niore.-aid shall he duly elected and 
sworn into the said Office, according to the Ordinance* 
and Constitutions hereafter in these Presents declared: 
And also we have assigned, nominated, constituted and 
made, and by these Presents, for XJs, our Heirs and Suc- 
cessors, do assign, nominate, constitute and make, our 
beloved John Woolluxlon, Henry Stone, John Persthouse, 
Richard Adamson, William Pier son, Richard Stone, Thomas 
(ivrwey, Thomas Ball, Humphrey Nickins, John Stone 
the elder, John Stone the younger, Thomas Hancock, 
Nicholas Sheppard, Nicholas Parker, John Cumber/age, 
Thomas Osboni, Thomas Burroives, Humphry Willel, 
Thomas Hodgkinson, Christopher Adamson, Thomas Crete, 
Henry Sheppard, (Jeorgc Thacker and Richard Webb, 



73 

Burgesses ami Inhabitants of the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid, that they be the Brat and now Capital Burgesses 
of the Morough and Foreign aforesaid, tcr continue in that 
Office (Hiring their natural Lives, unless in the mean 
Time by bad Conduct or Behaviour in that behalf they 
hi all be removed, or any of them shall be removed from 
that Office: And we further will, ami by these Presents, 
for Us, our Heirs and Successors, grant to the said Mayor 
and Commonalty of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid 
and their Successors, that the Mayor and Capital Burgesses 
cf the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, for the Time being, 
or the major Part of them, whereof the Mayor for the Time 
being to be one, we will shall from Time to Time and 
at all Times hereafter have Power and Authority, and 
shall Yearly and every Year on the Day or Feast of St. 
Michael the Archangel, by themselves or the major Part of 
them, assembled in the Guild Mi II, or in any other con- 
venient Place within the Borough aforesaid, according to 
tluir Directions shall limit and assign and the same con- 
tinue, until they or the major Part of them, then assembled 
as aforesaid, then and there shall nominate and elect one 
of the Capital Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid, to be Mayor of the Borough and Foreign afore- 
said for one whole Year then next following: And that, 
then and there they shall and may nominate and elect, 
before they depart from thence, one of the Capital Bur- 
gessses of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid for one whole 
Year then next following, and after that he so as afore- 
said shall be nominated and elected into the Mayoralty of 
the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, and that before he 
is admitted to execute that Office shall take his Corporal 
Oath upon the Holy Evangelists, Yearly upon that Day 
of Election, if he shall be present, and if absent, then 



7;J 

within one Month next offer the said D.iy of Election, 
before tlie last Mayor his Predecessor, to execute that 
Office honestly, well and faithfully «n all Things touching 1 
tin said Office: And after the said Oath so taken the 
Offiee of Mayor of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid 
shall and may he executed until the Feast of -5/. Michael 
the Archangel then next following, ami from thence until 
one other of the Capital Burgesses of the B'ofough and 
Foreign aforesaid he elected, prefered and sworn according 
to the Ordinances and Constitutions as above in these 
Presents declared. And We further will, and by 
these Presents, for Us, our Heirs and Successors', do 
grant to the aforesaid Mayor and Commonalty of the 
Borough and Foreign aforesaid and their Successors, that 
if it shall happen the Mayor of the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid at any Time hereafter, within one Year all er he 
shall have hcen pn f red and sworn into the Office of 
Mayor of the Boiough and Foreign aforesaid, shall die or 
he removed from his Oflice, which Mayor YvE will shall 
he removed from his Office upon had Behaviour or any 
other reasonable Cause, according to the Will of the 
Capital Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, 
or the major Part of them for the Time being, that then 
and as often as it shall conveniently he, the Capital Bur- 
gas, s of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, for the Time 
h.ing, or the major Part of them, nut and assembled for 
that Purpose within the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, 
within a convenient Time after the Death or Removal of 
such Mayor, they shall elect and prefer one of the Capital 
Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid into tin 
Place of such Mayor so dead or removed from his Office; 
and that he so elected and chose into the Office of Mayor, 
by his Corporal Oath before two or more of the Capital 

L 



74 

Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid for the 
Time being, in that Office of Mayor of the Borough and 
Foreign aforesaid, in and for all Things touching the 
Execution of the said Ofitee as before mentioned, do hold 
and execute that Office during the Reiuuinder of the Year, 
and from that Time until another of I he Capital Burgesses 
of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid he duly elected, 
prefered, and sworn into that Office, and in like Manner 
as^often as the Case shall so happen: Wherefore We 
will and by these Presents, for Us, our Heirs and Suc- 
cessors, do give and grant to any two or more of the 
Capital Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid 
for the Time being, the Case happening as aforesaid, full 
Power and Authority to administer the said Oath as afore- 
said, to the Mayor from Time to Time to be nominated and 
chosen, without any Commission or further Warrant to 
be procured or obtained in that Behalf; and if and as 
often as it shall happen that any or either of the Capital 
Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, for the 
Time being, shall die or be removed from his Office, 
which Capibd Burgesses, or any or either of them, not 
behaving himself or themselves well or for any other rea- 
sonable Cause, We will that he or they shall be removed 
according to the Direction of the Mayor and Capital 
Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, for the 
Time being, or the major Part of them, that then and 
as often as it shall and may be convenient to the Mayor and 
the rest of the Capital Burgesses of the Borough and 
Foreign aforesaid, for the Time being, or the major Part 
of them, for that Purpose met and assembled, within a 
convenient Time, within the Borough and Foreign afore- 
said, to nominate, <yc. SfC 9 elect and prefer one other or 
ui«re of the more honest and discreet Inhabitants of the 



75 

BorbUgY) ana Foreign aforesaid, into the Place or Places 
of such Capital Burgesses so dead or removed from his o? 
their Office, <o supply the aforesaid Number of twenty- 
four Cupitid Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign afore- 
said, and that, lie or they so elected and prefered into the 
Office of a Capital Burgess or Capital Burgesses of tin' 
Borough aforesaid, to hold and exercise that Office during 
his or their natural Lives, unless in the mean Time they or 
any of them shall be removed for any reasonable Cause 
as aforesaid, a Corporal Oath being first taken before 
the Mayor of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid upon the 
Holy Evangelists, for the Execution of that Office honestly* 
well, and faithfully. We further will and by these 
Presents, for Us, our Heirs and Successors, do giant to 
the aforesaid Mayor and Commonalty of the Borough and 
Foreign aforesaid and to their Successors, that if it shall 
happen that the Mayor of the Borough and Foreign afore- 
said for the Time being, shall b° so afflicted with Sickness 
that he cannot possibly look after the Business of the 
Borough and Foreign aforesaid, or depart from the said 
Borough and Foreign for any reasonable Cause by the Leave 
of the Capital Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign afore- 
said, for the Time being, or the major Part, of them, 
that then and as often as it shall happen, it shall and may 
be lawful to and for the Mayor of the Borough and 
Foreign aforesaid, for the Time being, to make and appoint 
one of the Capital Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid, to be the Deputy of such Mayor for the Time 
being, so afflicted with Sickness, or absent for any reason- 
able Cause to be allowed as aforesaid, to be continued in 
that Office in the absence of the Mayor of the Borough 
and Foreign aforesaid, for the Time being, which Capital 
Burgesses so to be deputed and appointed in that Offic 



76 

of Mayor, shall do and execute all and every Tiling and 
Things which beiong, or ought 1o belong to the Office of 
the May or, of the BorougJtl and Foreign, lo he done and 
executed within the aforesaid Borough and Foreign, the 
Liberties and Precinct* of the same, and shall during the 
Time pf the Absence or Sickness of the Mayor for the 
Time being, by Virtue of these our Lcr!crs Patent, 
as fully, freely and largely, and in as ample a Manner, 
as t .e Mayor of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, if he 
hiid been present, might or could exei ute by Virtue of 
these our Letters Patent, or by any other Means, having 
first taken his Corporal Oath before any Two or more 
of the Capital Burgesses of the Boiough and Foreign 
aforesaid, truly, well, and faithfully to execute all and 
every the Things which belong to the Office of Deputy- 
Mayor of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, and in like 
Manner, as often as the Case shall happen. Wherfore 
wewjm. and by these Presents, lor us, our Heirs and 
Successors, do give and grant full Power and Authority, 
to Two or more of the Capital Burgesses of the Borough 
and Foreign aforesaid, for the Time being, of giving and 
administering, a Corporal Oath upon the Holy Evangelists, 
to any Deputy-Mayor, in such Case as aforesaid, to be 
appointed for the faithful Execution of the Office of 
Deputy -Mayor of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, 
according to the Tenor of these Presents, without any 
Commission or other Warrant in that Behalt to be obtained. 
And M0RE0vr.it, out of our special Grace, certain 
Knowledge, and mere Motion, We grant, for us, our 
Heirs and Successors, unto the aforesaid Mayor and 
Commonalty of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, and 
their Successors, that if any one shall hereafter be ap- 
pointed and elected into the Office of Mayor of the 



77 

Borough and Foreign aforesaid, and having Knowledge 
or Notice of his election and Appointment, shall refuse 
or deny to take upon himself to execute that Office, then 
and as often as it shall and may be convenient for the 
Mayor and Capital Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid, for the Time being, or the major Part of 
them, for ever to assess and impose a Fine or an Amerci- 
ament upon any one so refusing and denying to take upon 
himself, and execute the Office of Mayor; and in Default 
of such Payment, Fine and Amerciament, to take and 
commit (tin) or them to the Gaol of the said Borough and 
Foreign, and there keep him until he shall pay, or cause 
to be p; i<!, such Fine or Amerciament, for the Use of 
the Mayor and Commonalty of the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid ; which Fines and Amerciaments, for us, our 
Heirs end Successors, we give and grant to the said 
Mayor and Commonalty, and their Successors, with Com- 
position or any other Agreement for the future, for Us, 
our Heirs and Successors, by any Means to be rendered, 
paid or made. We likewise will, and by these Pre- 
sents, for Us, our Heirs and Successors, do grant to the 
said Mayor and Commonalty of the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid, and their Successors, that they and their Suc- 
cessors for ever hereafter, have and retain within the 
Borough and Foreign aforesaid, one discreet Mail skilled 
in the Laws of England and some other discreet and fit 
Man who shall be, and be named Recorder of the Borough 
and Foreign aforesaid. And we do give and grant for Us, 
our Heirs and Successors by these Presents, to the said 
Mayor and Capital Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid, for the Time being, or the major Part of them, 
full Power and Authority from Time to Time, of nomi- 
nating, electing and prefering one discreet Man skilled 



78 



in the Laws of England, or some other discreet and fit 
Man to be Recorder of the Borough and Foreign afore- 
said, to continue in that Office during the good Pleasure 
of the Mayor and the major Part of tiie Capital Burgesses 
of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, for the Time being, 
and that he for a reasonahle Cause shall be removed, 
and another appointed in his Place, and in like Manner 
as often as the Case shall so happen. We likewise will 
that every Recorder of the Borough and Foreign afore- 
said, before he be admitted to execute that Office, shall 
take his Corporal Oath upon the Holy Evangelists, before 
the Mayor of the Borough aforesaid, for the Time being, 
well and faithfully to exeeute the Office of Recorder of 
the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, in and for all Things 
relating to the said Office of Recorder. And that in 
like Manner there be within the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid, one discreet Man, who is and shall be called 
the Common or Town-Clerk of the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid, and that our Intention in that Behalf may take 
the better Effect, We give and grant, for Us, our 
Heirs and Successors, by these Presents, to the Mayor 
and the major Part of the Capital Burgesses of the Borough 
and Foreign aforesaid, full Power and Authority, from 
Time to Time, for nominating and electing one discreet 
and fit Person to be the Town-Clerk of the Borough and 
Foreign aforesaid, to remain in that Office during the 
good Pleasure of the Mayor and the major Part of the 
Capital Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, 
for the Time being, having first taken his Corporal Oath 
before the Mayor of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, 
well and faithfully to execute that Office. And further 
out of our more abundant and special Grace, certain 
Knewledge, and mere Motion have granted, and by these 



79 

Presents, for us, our Heirs and Successors, do grant to the 
aforesaid Mayor and Commonalty of the Borough and 
Foreign aforesaid, and their Successors, that they and 
their Successors have and hold, and they are hereby 
impowered and enabled to have and hold within the 
Borough and Foreign aforesaid, a certain Court of Record 
btfore the Mayor, Recorder and Town-Clerk of the 
Borough and Foreign aforesaid, or two of them, or their 
sufficient Deputy -in the aforesaid Guildhall, or any other 
convenient Place in the said Borough and Foreign on any 
Tuesday in any Week, or within a Fortnight, or in a 
shorter or longer Space of Time as Occasion require, to 
be held for ever. And that the said Mayor, Recorder, 
and Town-Clerk, or Two of them, or their Deputy as 
aforesaid, for the Time being, have full Power and Au- 
thority from Time to Time, of hearing and determining 
by Plaint in the same Court, of all who seek to be relieved 
in all and every Debts, Compositions, Contracts, Cove- 
nants, and Trespasses, with Force and Arms, or otherwise 
in Contempt of Us, our Heirs and Successors, committed 
or to be committed, Detainers, Contempts, Frauds, and 
other personal Complaints whatsoever, within the Borough 
and Foreign aforesaid, and the Limits, Boundaries, or 
Liberties of the same, or any of them, so arising or to arise, 
happening or to happen, provided always, that the said 
Debts, Agreements, Contracts, Covenants, Trespasses, 
and other Actions and Pleas, exceed the Sum of Forty 
Shillings, and do not exceed the Sum or Value of Twenty 
Pounds. And that the same Mayor, Recorder, and 
Town-Clerk of the Borough aforesaid, for the Time being, 
or their sufficient Deputies, in such Plaints, Pleas, Com- 
plaints and Actions, have Power, Authority and Faculty 
to defend Persons against whom such Plaints, Pleas or 



80 

Actions shall happen to be commenced or moved, and to 
direct the Serjeants at Mace of the Borough and Foreign 
for the Time being, to bring to Plea bySummons, Attach- 
ments, and Distringas* And for Default of Lands and 
Chattels of such Defendants within the Borough or Foreign 
aforesaid, and the Limits, Precincts and Liberties of the 
same, where there may be either Summons, Attachments, 
or Distress by Attachments, or taking their Bodies; pro- 
vided that such attachment or taking erf any Man's Body 
to answer any Action, Plea or Plaint, be not in or upon 
any Day or Days, whereon a Market or Fair is held in 
the Borough and Foreign aforesaid ; and to hear and deter- 
mine separately, all and every Action, Plaints and Pleas 
as above-mentioned, and to examine and determine by like 
Process, Judgment and Execution of Judgment by such 
Pleas, are examined and determined in any other Borough 
or Town-Corporate, within our Kingdom of England, and 
that Execution of Processes and Judgment be made out 
and served by the aforesaid Serjeants at Mace. And We 
further will and by these Presents, for Us, our Heirs 
and Successors, do grant to the said Mayor and Com- 
monalty of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, and their 
Successors, That they and their Successors for ever here- 
after, may and shall have within the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid, Two Officers who shall be and be called Serjeants 
at Mace of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, to serve 
in the Court of the said Borough and Foreign. And to 
make out and execute Processes, Distresses, Attach- 
ments, Arrests, Panels of Juries, Executions of Judgments, 
Precepts, Warrants, and other Businesses whatsoever within 
the Borough and Foreign, Liberties or Precincts of the 
same, which belong to the said Office of Serjeant at Mace, 
in like Manner as is usual and customary, or ought to be 



81 

done hi other Courts of Record, in any other Boroughs 
or Towns-Corporate within our Kingdom of England", 
which said Serjeants at Mace, shall be appointed and 
elected by the Mayor of the Borough and Foreign afore- 
said, for the Time being, and shall from Time to Time 
be attending upon, and over the Mayor and Borough 
uud Foreign aforesaid, for the Time being. We likewise 
WILL and ordain, and by these Presents, for Us, our 
Heirs and Successors, grant to the said Mayor and Com- 
monalty of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, and their 
Successors, that the said Serjeants at Mace so appointed 
as aforesaid, shall carry and bear, and be impowered to 
carry and bear within the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, 
the Liberties and Precincts of the same; Silver or Golden 
Maces engraved and adorned with the Mark of the Arms 
of Us, our Heirs and Successors, before ihe Mayor of 
the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, for the Time being, 
in any Place within the Borough aforesaid, the Liberties 
and Precincts of the same. And We further will and 
by these Presents, for Us, our Heirs and Successors, do 
grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty of the Borough 
and Foreign aforesaid, and their Successors, that the afore- 
said William Webb, now Mayor of the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid, before-mentioned in these Presents, to be the 
first and now Mayor of the said Borough and Foreign, dur- 
ing the Time aforesaid, in which he shall execute the Office 
of Mayor in the same, and also the Recorder of the Borough 
and Foreign aforesaid, for the Time being, and likewise 
the said John Wollaston and Henry Stone, lately Two of 
the most Ancient Capital Burgesses of the Borough and 
Foreign aforesaid, in Degree and Order, and Two of the 
most Ancient Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid, for the Time being. And likewise any Person 

M 



82 

who shall hereafter exercise the Office of Mayor of the 
Borough and Foreign aforesaid, daring one Year after 
they shall have left the Office of Mayor for ever hereafter, 
may and shall be Justices of the Peace, for Us, our Heir* 
and Successors, and any of them, shall and may be a Justice 
of the Peace, for Us, our Heirs and Successors, to preserve 
and keep, and cause to be preserved and kept, the Peace 
of Us, our Heirs and Successors, in the same Borough and 
Foreign, the Liberties and Precincts thereof ; and also to 
preserve and keep, and cause to be preserved and kept, the 
Statutes of Tradesmen and Labourers, Weights and Mea- 
sures, within the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, the 
Liberties and Precincts of the same. And also according 
to the Statutes concerning Tradesmen, that the Capital 
Burgesses of the most Ancient in Degree and Order of the 
Borough and Foreign aforesaid, and whatsoever Person 
shall exercise the Office of Mayor of the Borough and 
Foreign aforesaid, during one Year after he shall depart 
from the Office of Mayor, or any Two or more of them, of 
whom We will, that the Mayor and Recorder of the Bo- 
rough aforesaid be One, have Power and Authority to en- 
quire by the Oath of Twelve or more good and lawful Men 
of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, by whom the Truth 
of the Matter may the better be known, or otherwise, of 
whatsoever Crimes, Defaults, and Articles done, moved, 
or committed, or hereafter to be done, moved, or committed 
within the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, and all other 
Things to be done, heard and determined in the same, 
within the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, the Liberties 
and Precincts thereof, which Justices and Keepers of the 
Peace in any County of our Kingdom of England, by the 
Laws and Statutes of such our Kingdom as Justices of the 
Peace, of themselves ought ami are empowered to do and 



83 

make Enquiry. And for the Chastisement and punish- 
ing Offender*, and eausing and making them find Security 
according to the Laws and Statutes of our Kingdom, yet 
so, that they nor any of them proceed to Trial or Determi- 
nation of any Conspiracy, Murder, or Felony whatsoever, 
or in any other Matter or Thing touching the Loss of Life 
or Members within the Borough or Foreign aforesaid, the 
Liberties and Precincts thereof. We likewise will that 
the said William Webb now Mayor, and the said John 
Wollaston and Henri/ Stone the now Two most Ancient 
Capital Burgesses of the Boiough and Foreign aforesaid, 
before they be admitted to execute the Offices of Justices 
of the Peace of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, shall 
take a Corporal Oath upon the Holy Evangelists, well and 
faithfully to execute the Office of a Justice of the Peace 
within the Borough and Foreigu aforesaid, the Liberties 
and Precincts thereof. And likewise they and each of 
them shall take the Oath in that behalf, required by the 
Statute of our Kingdom of England, to be by a Justice of 
the Peace, before our beloved Simon Weston, Edward Lit- 
tleton, Walter Cketwynd, Hugh Rochley, Knights, and 
Humphry Wyrley, Esquire, or any Two or more of them ; 
to which said Simon Weston, Edward Littleton, Walter 
Chetwynd, Hugh Rochley, and Humphry Wyrley, or any 
Two or more of them, We give and grant full Power 
and Authority to administer such Corporal Oath as afore- 
said, upon the Holy Evangelists aforesaid, to the Mayor 
and the Two most Ancient Capital Burgesses above-men- 
tioned, .of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid by these 
Presents, without any Commission, or any other or further 
Warrant in that behalf to be had and obtained, from Us, 
our Heirs and Successors. We also will and by these 
Presents, constitute and ordain, that any Mayor or Re- 



84 

corder, or Two of the most Ancient Capital Burgesses of 
the Boiongh and Foreign aforesaid for the Time being-, 
and likewise anv Person who shall hereafter hold the Office 
of Mayor of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, shall hy 
Virtue of these Presents, execute the Office of Justice of 
the Peace of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, hut he- 
fore he he admitted into the Execution of the Office of 
Justice of the Peace, they and each of tlieni shall take his 
and their Corporal Oath upon the Holy Evangelists, well 
and faithfully to execute the Office of Just ce of the Peace, 
within the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, the Liberties 
and Precincts thereof, and likewise the Oath in that hehalf 
required and provided by Laws and Statutes of our King- 
dom of England, to be taken by the Justices of the Peace 
before the Mayor of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid. 
To which Mayor for the Time being, We give and grant, 
and by these Presents do give and grant full Power and 
Authority to administer such Oa;h as aforesaid, to the said 
Justices to be hereafter appointed without any further 
Commission or Warrant to be obtained. And likewise for 
Us, our Heirs and Successors, We WIM,, that as well 
every the Mayors of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid 
hereafter to be appointed, as likewise the present Capital 
Burgesses of the Borough and Foreign in these' above- 
mentioned, and all other Capital Burgesses hereafter to be 
appointed in the Same. And also the Recorder and Town- 
Clerk of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid for the Time 
being, and all and every Serjeants at Mace hereafter to be 
appointed in the same, shall from Time to Time for ever 
hereafter, separately and respectively take their Corporal 
Oath upon the Holy Evangelists, before the Mayor of the 
Borough and Foreign aforesaid, to execute their Offices and 
Places within the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, the 



85 

Liberties and Precincts thereof, and for the better Execu- 
tion thereof from henceforward, for Us, our Heirs and 
Successors, We give and grant to the Mayor of the 
Borough and Foreign aforesaid for the Time being, abso- 
lute Power of administering such Oath as aforesaid, and 
that without any further Commission or any other Warrant 
from Us, our Heirs and Successors, to be hereafter had or 
obtained. We HAVE likewise granted and by these 
Presents, for Us, our Heirs and Successors, do grant to 
the said Mayor and Commonalty of the Borough and 
Foreign aforesaid, and Successors, that they and their Suc- 
cessors have and hold within the Borough aforesaid, the 
Liberties and Precincts of the same, one Prison or Gaol, 
for the safe keeping and Custody of all and every the 
Prisoners attached or to be attached, or committed to the 
■Goal or Prison of the Borough aforesaid, for any Cause 
arising or happening within the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid, the Liberties and Precincts thereof, there to 
remain and continue until they shall be discharged by due 
Course of Law, and that the Mayor of the Borough and 
Foreign aforesaid, for the Time being, or any Person to be 
appointed by the said Mayor, for whom he shall be answer- 
able, shall be Keeper of the said Goal, We have likewise 
granted and by these Presents, for Us, our Heirs and 
Successors, do grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty 
of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, that the Mayor, 
Recorder, and Two of the most Ancient Capital Burgesses 
of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, for the Time being, 
and any who shall hold the Office of Mayor of the Borough 
aforesaid, and during one Year after he shall leave his said 
Office, and be in the Office of Justice of the Peace, or any 
Two or more of them, whom We will, that the Mayor or 
Recorder of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid for the 



S6 

Time being, be One, that they may and are im powered by 
their Warrants in Writing-, their own Honda being there- 
unto subscribed, 6igned and sealed, to send all bueh and 
the like Persons who shall be hereafter taken, arrested, 
attached, or found in the Borough or Foreign aforesaid, the 
Liberties or Precincts thereof, for Conspiracy, Murder, 
Homicide, Felony, or Robbery, committed or to be com- 
mitted, or for Suspicion of the said Offences or Crimes, to 
the common Goal of our County of Stafford, there to re- 
main ami be tried, and answer for their O (fences before the 
J ust ices of Us, our Heirs and Successors, assigned, and to 
be assigned, to hear and determine, or to muke a Goal- 
Delivery of our said County. It suing our will and by 
these Presents, for Us, our Heirs and Successors, com- 
manding us well the Sheriff of the County of Stafford afore- 
said, as also the Keeper of the Common-Gaol of the said 
County of Stafford, for the Time being, that they and 
each of them upon sueh Warrant by the said Justices of the 
Peace within the Borough and Foreign aforesaid for the 
Time being, to be made, and to them or either of them 
directed, all such Persons us aforesaid, by the said Justice 
of the Peace within the Borough aud Foreign aforesaid, 
hereafter to be taken, arrested, attached, or secured in the 
said Borough and Foreign, the Liberties or Preciucts 
thereof, for Murder, Homicide, Felony, or Robbery done or 
committed, or for Suspicion of the said Offences, and to be 
sent to the said Common-( loal of the said County of Staf- 
ford as aforesaid, to be received and kept in safe Custody, 
there to remain and be tried, and answer for their Offences 
us aforesaid. And these our Letters Patent or the Inroll- 
ment thereof, shall be to the said Sheriff and Keeper of the 
Common-Goal of the County aforesaid for the Time being, 
a sufficient Warrant and Discharge in that behalf. And 



87 

further Af.so out of our more abundant and special Grace, 
certain Knowledge, and mere Motion, We WILL and by 
these Presents, for Us, our Heirs and Successors, do grant 
to the said Mayor and Commonalty of the Borough and 
Foreign aforesaid, and their Successors, that the Mayor and 
Capital Burgesses of the liorough and Foreign aforesaid for 
the Tune bring, he not put or impanelled, nor any of them 
be put or impanelled upon any Jury of Assize or other 
Inquest whatsoever, before the Justices of Us, our Heirs 
and Successors, assigned or to be assigned, to take the As- 
sizes or Goal-Delivery, or before our Justices assigned or 
to be assigned to keep the Peace within the County of St of" 
ford aforesaid, out of the Borough or Foreign aforesaid, and 
that no Issue or Amerciament whatsoever, by Reason there* 
<iM>e hereafter levied, nor any of them do levy for Us, our 
Heirs and Successors, but shall be acquitted thereof for 
ever, unless they or any of them have Lands and Tene- 
ments out of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, the Liber- 
ties or Precincts thereof, for which he or they may be sum- 
moned. We likewise wile and by these Presents, for 
Us, our Heirs and Successors, do grant to the said Mayor 
and Commonalty of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, 
and their Successors, that all and every the Burgesses, In- 
habitants anil Men of the Borough and Foreign, as well 
now as hereafter, and always for ever, be free, acquitted and 
discharged, throughout our whole Kingdom of England, 
from the rendering or Payment of Impost or Toll, in as 
ample Form, as the People of the Manor of Walsall 
formerly were, and have been iutitled to by Means, Force 
and Virtue of certain Letters Patent, dated at Weslmin- 
Her the Eighth Day of Jul;/, in the Forty-seventh Year 
of Edward the Third, late King of England, or of some 
other Letters Patent of om Progenitors or Ancestor!, 



8$ 

Kings of England, heretofore made or granted. Wfi 
thereupon have granted and by these Presents, 
for Us, our Heirs and Successors, do grant to the said 
Mayor and Commonalty and their Successors, special 
Licence, Liberty, lawful Power, Ability and Authority of 
purchasing and taking Possession to themselves and their 
Successors for ever, Messuages, Lands, Tenements, Mea- 
dows, Feedings, Pastures, Woods, Underwoods, Rectories, 
Tythes, Reversions, or other Hereditaments whatsoever, 
as well for Us, our Heirs and Successors, as for any other 
Person or Persons whatsoever, who do not immediately 
hold of Us, our Heirs or Successors, in Capite nor by 
Knights-Service, so as the said Messuages, Lands, Tene- 
ments, Meadows, Feedings, Pastures, and other Here- 
ditaments so by them to b« had, held and received, do 
not exceed in the whole the clear Yearly V T alue of Twenty 
Pounds, above all Issues beyond Reprizes, the Statute 
for not putting of Lands and Tenements in Mortmain, 
or any other Statute, Act Order or Provision heretofore 
made or ordained, or provided, or any other Matter, 
Cause or Thing whatsoever, to the contrary thereof in 
any wise notwithstanding. We likewise give and by 
these Presents, for Us, our Heirs and Successors, do 
grant to all and every of the Subjects of Us, our Heirs 
and Successors, special, free and lawful Power, Licence 
and Authority, that they or any of them, shall and may 
give and grant, sell, divise, or alien, Messuages, Lands, 
Tenements, Meadows, Feedings, Pastures, Woods, Under- 
woods, Rectories, Tythes, Yearly Rents, Reversions, Ser- 
vices, or other Hereditaments whatsoever, which are not 
immediately held of Us, our Heirs or Successors in Capite 
or by Knights-Service, to the said Mayor and Commonalty 
©f the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, and their Sue* 



sa 



lessors, so that the said Messuages, Lands, Tenements, 
Meadows, Feedings, Pastures, and Hereditaments, so to 
be given, granted, devised, or aliened to the said Mayor 
and Commonalty and their Successors, by Virtue of these 
Presents, do not exceed in the whole the clear Yearly 
Value of Twenty Pounds, above all Issues beyond Re- 
prizes, the Statute for not putting of Lands and Tenements 
in Mortmain, or any other Statute, Act, Order, or Provi- 
sion, or any other Matter, Cause, or Thing whatsoever, 
to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. And 
We further will and by these Presents for Us, our 
Heirs and Successors, do grant to the said Mayor and 
Commonalty of the Borough and Foreign of Walsall 
aforesaid and their Successors, that they and their Suc- 
cessors from henceforth for ever hereafter, have, hold 
and keep, and they shall and may have, hold and keep 
within the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, the Liberties 
and Precincts thereof, Yearly and every Year, Two Marts 
or Fairs, the first of which said Marts or Fairs to begin 
in and upon the Day or Feast of St. Matthias, and to be 
held and continue throughout that whole Day or Feast. 
And the other Mart or Fair to begin on the Tuesday next 
before the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel Yearly, and 
to be held and continue throughout the whole Tuesday, 
together with a Court of Pye-Powder at the said several 
Times of the Ma>ts or Fairs, so to be held as aforesaid, 
with all Liberties, free Customs, Stallage, Piccage, Fines,- 
Amerciaments, and all other Profits, Commodities and 
Emoluments whatsoever to the said Fairs or Mails, and 
Courts of Pye-Powder belonging, happening, arising, or 
appertaining. Provided nevertheless, that the said Fairs 
or Marts, or either of them, be not to the Damage or 
Prejudice of any other neighbouring Fairs or Marts near 



90 

thereto adjoining. Wherefore We will and by these 
Presents, for Us, our Ht-tns and Successors, do firmly 
ch.t.ge and command that the aforesaid Mayor and Com- 
raoi.alty of the borough and Foreign aforesaid, and their 
Successors, have, hold and keep, aud shall and may have 
hold ajad keep within the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, 
or the Liberties and Precincts thereof, or any of them, 
Yearly and every Year for ever, the aforesaid two Fairs 
or Marts, the first of them on the aforesaid Day or feast of 
St. Matthias, to begin and be held, kept and continued 
throughout that whole Day or Yearly Feast. And the 
second of the said Fairs or Marts on the aforesaid Tuesday 
next before the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel Yearly, 
to begin and be held, kept and continued throughout 
that whole Tuesday, together with the Court of Pye-Pow- 
der there, at the Time of the said Fair or Mart to be 
holden together, with all Liberties and free Customs, 
Tolls, Stallage, Piccage, Fines, Amerciaments, and all 
other Profits, Commodities, Advantages and Emoluments 
whatsoever, to the said Fair or Mart, and Court of Pye- 
Powder, belonging, happening, arising or appertaining. 
And this without any Writ of ad quod dampnum, or any 
other Writ issuing out of our Court of Chancery or else- 
where. Provided nevertheless, that the said Fairs or 
Marts, or either of them, be not nor shall be to the 
Damage or Prejudice of any other neighbouring Fairs 
or Marts near thereto adjoining. And moreover out of 
our more abundant smd special Grace, certain Knowledge, 
and mere Motion, for us, our Heirs and Successors, We 
give, grant and confirm to the aforesaid Mayor and Com- 
monalty of the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, and their 
Successors, all and all Manner of Liberties, Franchises, 
Immunities, Executions, Priviledges, Freedoms, Juris- 



91 

■dictions, Markets, and Hereditaments whatsoever, which 
the Mayor and Commona ty of the Borough an I Foreign 
now hold, use and enjoy', and which any of them and 
their Predecessors by whatsoever Name or Names, or by 
whatsoever Incorporation or by Means of whatsoever Cor- 
poration heretofore had, held, used, and enjoyed, or ought 
to have had, held, used or enjoyed of hereditary Right by 
Reason or Colour of any Charters or Letters Patent, of 
any of our Progenitors or Predecessors, late Kings or 
Queens of England, in any vise heretofore made, granted 
or confirmed, or whatsoever other Custom, Right or Title, 
prescribed~or used, heretofore lawfully used held or accus- 
tomed, although the same or any of them, or any other 
heretofore have not been used, or have been abused or 
discontinued, and although the same or any of them, or 
any other have been forfeited or lost, to be had, holden, 
and enjoyed, by the said Mayor and Commonalty of the 
Borough and Foreign aforesaid, and their Su, cessors, for 
Wherefore We will, and by these Presents, for Us, 
our Heirs and Successors, firmly require and command 
that the aforesaid Mayor and Commonalty of the Borough 
and Foreign aforesaid and their Successors, have, hold, 
use, and enjoy, and shall and may for ever have, hold; 
use and enjoy, all Liberties, free Customs, Priviledges, 
Authorities, Jurisdictions, and Immunities as aforesaid, 
according to the Tenor of these our Letters Patent, without 
any Hindrance or Impediment from Us, our Heirs and 
Successors whomsoever, being unwilling that the said 
Mayor and Commonalty of the Borough and Foreign 
aforesaid, and their Successors, or any or either of them 
by Reason of the Premisses or otherwise by Us, our Heirs 
or Successors, or the Justices, Sheriff, Escheator, or other 
BadifT's-Qfficer, of Us, our Heirs or Successors what- 



92 

soever, should be disturbed, molested, interrupted, or 
over-ruled by Occasion thereof, or otherwise howsoever. 
We willing and by these Presents, commanding and 
requiring as well our Treasurer, Chancellor, and Barons 
of our Exchequer at Westminster, and all other the Justices 
of Us, our Heirs and Successors, as our Attorney-General 
for t.ie Time being, aud every of them, and all other our 
Officers and Ministers of Us, our Heirs and Successors 
whomsoever, that neither they nor any of them, make 
or cause to be sued or prosecuted, or any of them make 
or cause to be sued or prosecuted by any Writ or Sum- 
mons of Quo Warranto, or any other our Writ or Process 
whatsoever against the said Mayor and Commonalty of 
the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, or any of them or any 
others, forany Cause, Matter, Offence, Clamour or Disturb- 
ance by them, or any of them, duly claimed, used, attempt- 
ed, held or usurped before the Day of granting these Presents. 
We willing also, that the Mayor and Commonalty of the 
Borough andForeign aforesaid, or any of them, by themselve* 
orany Justices, Officers, or Ministers aforesaid, in and for the 
due Use, Claim or Abuse of any other Liberties, Fran- 
chises, or Jurisdictions, within the Borough aud Foreign 
aforesaid, the Limits and Precincts thereof, before the Day 
of granting these our Letters Patent, be in no wise molest- 
ed or hindered, or compelled to answer to them or any of 
them. We moreover will, that these our Letters 
Patent, or any Thing herein contained, shall by no Means 
extend themselves, or be construed or interpreted to ex- 
tend to the Prejudice, Derogation, Interruption or Da- 
mage of any of the Authorities, Priviledges, Liberties, Ex- 
emptions, Jurisdictions, and Profits, which belong or ap- 
pertain, or ought to belong or appertain to the Lord of the 
Manor of Walsall aforesaid, for the Time being, in Right 



03 

of his Manor, by Boron, Means, or Force of any Charters, 
Letters Patent, or Grunts by Us, or any of our Progenitors 
or Ancestors heretofore made, or by any other lawful 
Custom, Ri^ht or Title, but that the said Lord of the 
Manor of Wahcl for the Time being, for ever hereafter, 
filial) and may hav i, hold and enjoy the same Authorities, 
Priviledges, Liberties, Exemptions, Jurisdictions, and, 
Profits, well, peaceably, quietly and freely, auv Thing in 
these Presents contained to the eo itrary thereof in any 
wise notwithstanding And our FtsaTHr.a will is, and 
by these Presents, for Us, our Heirs and Successors, do 
grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty and their Succes- 
sors, that these our Letters P it:-nt, or the l.irollmrnt 
thereof shall be firm, valid, and effectual aecarning to the 
true Meaning thereof, Bfcause that it is expressly men- 
tioned, §c. In Testimony wh reof, <$•<-. T. R. at West- 
minster, the Twentieth Day of July, in the Third Year of 
the Reign of King Charles, by a Writ of the Privy-Seal, 
ffc. And we have at the Request of John Wollaston, Gen- 
tleman, Mayor, and John Byrch, Gentleman, Recorder of 
the Borough and Foreign aforesaid, by the Tenor of these 
Presents, caused the same to be exemplified. In Testi- 
mony whereof we have caused these our Letters to bn made 
Patent. Witness Our-self at Westminster, the Twenty- 
second Day of February, in the Thirteenth Year of our 
Reign, 

Grymston Br, 



CHURCH WARDENS 



OF 

WALSALL. 



BOROUGH. 

Easter. 

1760 John Smith 
William Kendrick 

1761 John Smith 
William Kendrick 

1762 Thomas Huxley- 
William Kendrick 

1763 Richard James 
William Kendrick 

1764 Richard James 
William Kendrick 

1765 Richard James 
William Kendrick 

1766 Joseph Cotterell,jun. 
William Kendrick 

1767 Simon Waddams 
William Kendrick 

1768 Simon Waddams 
Joseph Bradley 



FOREIGN. 



Moses Bird 
Rich. Hollinsed, jun. 
Charles Thomhill 
William Green 
Rich. Persehouse, esq. 
William Green 
Thomas Fowler 
William Green 
Thomas Fowler 
William Green 
Moses Yeomans 
John Scott 
John Beal^y 
John Scott 
John Bealey 



95 



BOROUGH. 

Easter. 

1709 Joseph Bradley 

Simon Waddams 

Geoige Smart 

1770 Stephen Barber 
Joseph Spurrier 

1771 Stephen Barber 
Jacob Smith 

1772 John Jesson 
John Hemming 

1773 Joseph Barber 
John Nicholls 

1774 Thomas Hector 
Edward Lycett 

1775 Deykin Hemming 
Benjamin Williams 

1776 John Adams 
Benjamin Williams 

1777 John Adams 
Benjamin Williams 

1778 John Adams 
Benjamin Williams 

1779 Joseph Wood 
Thomas Carless 

1780 Joseph Wood 
Thomas Carless 

1781 John Hemming, gent. 
Thomas Adams 

1782 John Hemming, gent. 
Thomas Adams 



FOREIGN'. 

John Whistance 
George Harrison, jun. 

William Woolrich 
George Harrison, jun. 
Benjamin Crutch ley 
William Woolrich 
Isaac Lea 

Benjamin Mountfort 
Richard Green 
Benjamin Mountfort 
Thomas Oerton 
Samuel Humphries 
Thomas Oerton 
William Quinton 
Thomas Oerton 
Willia ii Quinton 
Thomas Oerton 
Thomas Southorn 
William Harvey 
Thomas Southorn 
Edward Winser 
William Harvey 
Joseph Hollinsed 
Edward Winser 
Edward Crowther 
Samuel Turner 
Edward Crowther 
John Oakley 



96 



BOROUGH. 

Easter. 

1783 Green Nicholls 

Richard Barber 
17S4 Josiah Adams 

Roger Hall 

1785 Josiah Adams 
Roger Hall 

1786 Ri< hard Burrows 
Benjamin Wallis 

17^7 Joseph Day 

Benjamin Wallis 

1788 Benjamin Wallis 
Joseph Day 

1789 William Spurrier 
Joseph Day 

1790 William Spurrier 
Joseph Day 

1701 Thomas Spurrier 
Stephen Barber 

1792 Thomas Spurrier 
Stephen Barber 

1793 Thomas Spurrier 
Stephen Barber 

1794 Christopher Wren 
Thomas Nicholls 

1795 Christopher Wren 
Thomas Nicholls 

179S Christopher Wren 
Thomas Nicholls 



rORHIGtf. 

Edward C rowdier 
Robert Hildick 
William Cowley 
John Woodward 
John Woodward 
William Cowley 
William Harvey 
Richard Groves- 
Daniel Marlow 

Daniel Marlow 
William Nevill 
Daniel Marlow 
Thomas Turner 
Daniel Marlow 
Thomas Turner 
Thomas Wood 
Robert Hildick 
Thomas Wood 
Robert Hildick 
John Shenlon 
Richard Stanway 
John S hen ton 
Richard Stanway 
John Shenton 
Richard Stanway 
Richard Stanway 
Edward Stanley 



U7 



BOROtTCt-Ht 

Easter. 

175^7 Peter Wraiherhead 

Thomas Nicliolls 
1798 Petri- \Vi atherhead 

Thomas Fi field 
1795) Peter Wealherhead 

Thomas Fifield 
1SOO Peter Wcatherhead 

Thomas Fifield 

1801 Peter Weatherhead 
Thomas Fifield 

1802 John Eyland 
William Nevill 

1803 John Fyland 
William Nevill 

1804 John Eyland 
William Nevill 

1803 Richard Mutter 

Joseph Haden 
1S0G Richard Rutter 

Joseph Haden 
18( 7 Frederick Milward 

B. Barber 
1S08 Frederick Milward 

B. Barber 

1809 Frederick Milward 
B. Barber 

1810 Frederick Milward 
B. Barber 



FohEinN, 

Joseph Curtis 
Edward Stanley 
Joseph ( 'urtis 
Edward Stanley 
Joseph Curtis 
Edward Stanley 
Joseph Curtis 
Edward Stanley 
Joseph Curtis 
Edward Stanley 
Joseph Day 
Joseph Curtis 
Joseph Day 
Joseph Green 
Joseph Day 
Joseph Green 
Joseph Day 
Joseph Green 
J. C. Wha.eley, esq. 
Jos. Bealey Stanley 
J. C. Whateley, esq. 
Jos. Bealey Stanley 
J. C. Whateley, esq. 
Jos. Bealey Stanley 
J. C. Whateley, esq. 
Jos. Bealey Stanley 
J. C. Whateley, es< | . 
Jo<*. Bailor Stanley 



98 

BOROUGH. FOREIGN. 

Master. 

1811 Chas. Henry Darwall Joseph Harrison 
Samuel Sharratt Thomas l'earce 

1812 Chas. Henry Darwall Joseph Harrison 
Samuel Sharratt Thomas Pearqe 



OVERSEERS OF THE POOR 

OF 

WALSALL. 



BOROUGH, FOREIGN. 

for tke 
Years. 

1759 Thomas Bullock 
Richard Westley 
Joseph Spurrier 
Green Nicholls 

1760 Daniel Hodgkins 
William Francis 

1761 Daniel Hodgkins 
William Francis 

1762 

1763 John Scott 
Joseph Barber 

1764 John Cooper Charles Thornhill 
Richard Brookes Thomas Cooper 

1765 John Perks 



99 



BOROUGH. 
For the 
Years. 
1 ]06 John Swairl 

George Smart 

Edward Holmes 

John Perks 
1767 Samuel Barber 

Samuel Hinton 
1T08 Thomas HintOn 

Richard Barber 
1709 Joseph Woollat 

Samuel Loynes 

1770 Henry Wathew 
Edward Lycett 

1771 John Nicholls 
John Barber 

1772 John Adams 
John Badger 

1773 Joseph Brookes 
Josiah Adam9 
Wdliam Newton 
John Abell 

1774 William Tomlinson 
Moses Palmer 

1775 Joseph Wood 
Thomas Carless 

1770' Thomas Adams 

John Belcher 
1777 Benjamin Mold 

Thomas Adams 

L.ofC. 



FOREIGN. 



Richard Green 
William Green 
Samuel Humphrys 
Benjamin Mountfort 
Samuel Humphrys 
Benjamin Mountfort 
Moses Bird 
Thomas Somerfield 



William Woolrich 
Thomas Horton 
William Hodson 
John Cater 
Thomas Southern 
John Jackson 
John Thomson 
William Harvey 



iOO 



BOROUGH. 

For the 
Years. 

1778 John Fletcher 
Wm. Thurstan, juu. 

1779 John Lucas 
Richard Barber 

1780 Thomas Spurrier 
Richard Burrowes 

1781 William Clarkson 
Joseph Cotterell 

1782 John Slokes 
Robert Cotgrave 

1783 John Stokes 
Robert Cotgrave 
JohnHeptinsta.il 
Francis Plant 

1784 Benjamin Brodhurst 
John Westley 
John Spurrier 

1785 Samuel Adams 
Thomas Fi field 
John Spurrier 

1785 William Adie 
Charles James 
John Spurrier 

1787 Richard Middlemoie 
Roger Hall 

1788 John Kendrick 
Richard Cooksey 



FOREIGN-. 



William Fletcher 
John Oakley 
Samuel Fletcher, juw> 
William Qn intern 
Thomas Oerton 
Samuel Turner 
John Woodward 
Thomas Heath 
Samuel Kendrick 
Joseph Hollinsed 
Richard Groves 
John Stokes 



Edward Stanley 
William Spooner 

Edward Crowther 
William Nevill 

John Forrister 
Samuel Birch, 

Joseph Green 
John Harrison 
William Cowley 
Etfsha Hawkins 



101 



BOROUC5H. 

For the 
Years. 

1789 Christopher Wren 
Stephen Barber 

1790 Edward Wright 
Thomas- Nieholls 
Thomas Pearce 

1791 William Wal ton 
Richard Crump 
Thomas Pearce 

1792 William Penn* 
T. Hipkina 
Thomas Pearce 

1793 James Rooker 
Thomas Brookes 
Thomas Pearce 

1794 Joseph Haden 
James Reynolds 
Thomas Pearce 

1795 Ralph Manley 
John Nieholls 
Thomas Pearce 

1796 Benjamin Mountfoit 
John Ash 
Thomas Pearce 

1797 William Spurrier 
Samuel Barber 
Thomas Pearce 



FOREIGN, 



Robert Newman 
John Rogers 
Joseph Newman 
Thomas Hawkins 

Thomas Peate 
William Heath 

John Moiratlbrt 
Thomas Turner 

Thomas Huskisson 
William Col born 

David Walker 
John Green 

F.dwartl Winsfv 
John Woodward 

William Croshavv 
Thomas Bates 

John Shenton 
John Siniih. 



* Died the 15th of May, 1792, aud Thomas Olillmm fctHnne* ap- 
pointed for the remainder of the year. 



J 02 



BQROVQIU 

For the 
Years. 

1798 Samuel Fletcher 
Richard Wathew 
Thomas Pearce 

1799 Thomas Scott 
William Brookes 
Thomas Pearce 

1800 William Nevill 
William Parker 
Thomas Pearce 

1801 John Bobbins 
John Hemming 
Thomas Pearce 

1S02 John Vaughan Barber 
Samuel Sharratt 

1803 William Nicholls 
Richard Rutter 

1S04 John Eld 

Edward Banton 

1805 Benjamin Barber 
Josiah Adams 

1806 John Freeth 
Joseph Jenns 

1807 Fowler Walker 
Thomas Carter 

1808 James Penn 
William Elwell 

1509 Francis Yates * 
William Mold 



FOREIGN* 



Whitmore Jones 
Lawrence Ward 

Whitmore Jones 
Lawrence Ward 

John Harrison 
Charles Worsey 
John Pearce 
Joseph Rock 
Walter Horton 

Simon Fowler 
John Walker 
Charles Alblaster 
Robert Bramall 
Joseph Adams 
Samuel Wood, jun. 
Joseph Bealey Stanley 
William Harrison 
Henry Quintou 
Thomas Rowley 
Thomas Cadman 
Joseph Wiggin 
Joseph Day 
Joseph Harrison 
Thomas Morris 
William Garner 



103 



BOROUGH. 

For the 
Years. 

1810 Hill Cox 
John Thurstan 

1811 Thomas Adams 
Joseph Cowley 

1S12 Samuel Fletcher 
Joseph Cotierell 



FOREIGN. 

Samuel Beech 

Samuel Beech 
William Biddlc 
John Tim m ins 
John Brawn 



CURATES OF WALSALL. 



1746. The Rev. John Nicholls entered, and 
resigned the beginning of the year 17(51, and was 
succeeded in 

1761, By the Rev. John Darwall, who was made 
vicar in Sept. 1769, and was succeeded in 

176U, By the Rev. David Davenport, who resigned 
and was succeeded in 

1773, By the Rev. Joseph Barber, who resigned, 
and was succeeded in 

, By the Rev. Charles Davenport, who died 

about Michaelmas, 1777, and was succeeded in 

Dec. 1777, By the Rev. John Kent, who resigned, 
and was succeeded in 

Dec. 1778, By the Rev. J. S. Rutter, who was 
made vicar in June, 1790, and succeeded in 



104 

1700, By the Rev. William Woodcock, who re? 
signed in December, 1794, and was succeeded in 

Jan. 1795, By the Rev. Jeremiah Ives Day, who 
■was appointed vicar's curate in July, 1796, when he 
was succeeded in 

, By the Rev. John White Weekes, as lecturer 

©r curate of Walsall, and at Lady Day, 1798, he re- 
signed, and was succeeded in 

, By the Rev. Charles Kippling, who 

resigned November 24, 1799, and in 

May, 1801, The Rev. Israel Bull, was appointed 
lecturer of Walsall, who resigned the 31st of Dec. 
1^05, and was succeeded 

July 27, 1806, By the Rev. John Brown Wright, 
as lecturer, who left Walsall the 21th of January, 
Ji-0-% and was succeeded 

March 25, 1808, By the Rev. John Peglar., as 
lecturer, who resigned at Lady Day, 1810. 



ORGANISTS OF WALSALL. 



John Balaam, (blind,) died and 



was succeeded in 

, By John Alcock, B. M. who died the 29th 

«f March, 17*91, (senior batchelor of music in England,) 
and was succeeded in 

1791, By William Rudge, who resigned in Jan- 
*a»y, 1796, and was succeeded in 



10.:; 



17!)G, By Jeremiah Clarke, organist of St. Philip's, 
Birmingham, who was succeeded 

June* 34, 1798, By William Rudge, who was 
succeeded in 

18C0, By Miss Partridge, who resigned the 20'th 
of December, 1811, and was succeeded in 

1812, By James Woolman. 



MAYORS OF WALSALL. 



Appointed 
Sept. 29. 

1740 Thos.Bradnock,esq. 

1741 Samuel Corbett, esq. 

1742 Martin Pashley, esq. 

1743 W. Haslewood, esq. 

1744 Chas. Steward, esq. 

1745 Chas. Steward, esq. 

1746 Thos.Bradnock,esq. 

1747 Thos.Bradnock,esq. 

1748 Sam. Corbett, esq. 
1719 Jos. Spurrier, esq. 

1750 Sam. Corbett, esq 

1751 Sam. Corbett, esq. 

1752 John Coulson, esq. 

1753 Thos. Nicholls, esq. 
1751 Sam. Corbel t, esq. 



Appointed 
Sept. 29. 

1755 Chas. Steward, esn. 

1756 T.Bradnock. esq. 

1757 C. Turnpenny, esq. 
175S T. Brad nock, esq. 

1759 Samuel Short, esq. 

1760 John Wilson, esq. 
176! John Bradnock, esq. 

1762 Rich. Palmer, esq. 

1763 Thos, Huxley, esq. 

1764 John Bradnock, esq. 
1?65 Rich. Palmer, esq. 

1766 John Taylor, esq. 

1767 Rev. Robert Felton 
1708 Thos. Huxley, esq. 
1769 John Taylor, esq. 

p 



106 



Appointed 
Sept. 29. 

1770 John Bradnock, esq. 

1771 Rich. Palmer, esq. 
"1772 John Taylor, esq. 

1773 John Stubbs, esq. 

1774 Jos. Spurrier, esq. 

1775 Thos. Farmer, esq. 

1776 Edw. Holmes, esq. 

1777 John Smith, esq. 

1778 W. Elwelljun. esq. 
1771) Steph. Barber, esq. 

1780 John Farmer, esq.* 

1781 John Palmer, esq. 

1782 Charles Forster, esq. 

1783 Joseph Stubbs, esq. 

1784 J. S. Rutter, esq. 

1785 Benj. Mold, esq. 
1780* Charles Windle, esq. 

1787 W. Elwell,jun. esq, 

1788 John Stubbs, esq. 

1789 Wm. Kendrick, esq. 

1790 Thos. Farmer, esq. 

1791 J. S. Rutter, esq. 



Appointed 
Sept. 29. 

1792 James Adams, esq. 

1793 Wm. Adams, esq. 

1794 D. Hemming, esq. 

1795 Wm. Hipkins, esq, 
179G F. O. Chinncr, esq. 

1797 Rich. Adams, esq. 

1798 Wm. Adams, esq. 

1799 John Stubbs, esq. 

1800 Chas. Forster, esq. 

1801 James Adams, esq. 

1802 WalterSpurrier,esq, 

1803 Chas. Adams, esq. 

1804 John Stubbs, esq. 
18C5 Rich. Adams, esq. 

1806 James Adams, esq. 

1807 WalterSpurrier,esq. 
1803 Joseph Curtis, esq. 

1809 Thomas Scott, esq. 

18 10 Wm. Walton, esq. 

1811 Sam. Wilson, esq. 

1812 James Adams, esq. 



* Died the 30lh of June, 1781, and Mr Edward Holmci was ap- 
pointed in his room for the remainder of the year. 



107 



RECORDERS OF WALSALL. 



1601. Edward Byrch, esq. 

. Robert Aglionby Slar.ey, esq. of Hatton, 

near ShitFnall. 

1757. Thomas Gilbert, esq. of Colton, near 
Cheadla. 

. William Beard, esq, of Newcasrle-under- 

Lyne, who was a Welch judge, and died the 5th of 
March, 1789. 

April 16, 1789. Charles Wallet Willis, esq; of 
Erdington, near Birmingham, barrister at law, who 
died the 25th of May, 1794. 

July 9, 1791. Nathaniel Gooding Clarke, esq. bar- 
rister at law, of Handsworth. 



MAGISTRATES OF WALSALL. 



1812 James Adams, esq. Mayor, 
Chas. Forster, esq. ~) 

Chas. Windle, esq. J Per P etu *l Magistrates. 
Sam. Wilson, esq. 



108 

TOWN CLERKS OF WALSALL. 



Elected. Elected. 

1660 Mark Anthony Caesar 174G Richard Nev ill 
Gallior Delow 175S Roger Holmes 

16ji4 Joseph Gorwey 1778 Thomas Hodgkins* 

3 702 Jonas Slaney 1S07 Joseph Stubbs 

1723 Matthew Stubbs 



CONSTABLES OF WALSALL. 



BOROUtill, FOREIGN. 

Elected 
October. 

1773 Benjamin Williams 

1774 William Smith 

1775 Richard Hunt 
1776* Richard Barber 

1777 Joseph Wood 

1778 Edward Lycett Richard Groves 

1779 Joseph Wooliatt « 

1780 John Kcndrick 

1781 Richard Middlemore 

1782 Hump. Wainwright 

1783 William Adie 

* Died the 12th of February, IR07, and on the 23d of the same 
month Mr. Joseph Stubbs wis elected. 



109 



BOROUGH. 

Elected 

October. 

1784 William Puui 
l?3j Thomas James 1 
17^» Thomas Fifield 
1787 Benj. Brodhurst 
1783 John Freetb 
17S9 Charles James 

1790 John Badger 

1791 Christopher Wren 
17.92 Benjamin Barber 

] 793 Thomas Newton 
1794 Joseph Burn 
1793 Richard Crump 
179<> John Thnrstan 

1797 Frederick Milward 

1798 John Swill. 

1799 John Hobbins 

1800 John Ash 

1801 Benjamin Mount P. d 
180-2 John Nicholls 
1803 Joseph Jenns 

1S01 Thomas Pearee 
180"> Ditto 
I80f> Ditto 
ISO 7 Ditto 

1808 Ditto 

1809 Ditto 

1810 Ditto 

1811 Ditto 

1812 Ditt* 



*• oiikk; N. 



Samuel Perks 
Thomas Muskisson 
Joseph Green 
John Rogers 
William Jones 
"William Spooner 
William Colbourn 
Thomas Daniel 
William Garner 
William Colbourn 
Joseph Marlow 
Jos. Bailey Stanley 
Henry Quinton 
John Harrison 
Elias Hawkins 
Joseph Griffin 
Titus Somerficld 
Ditto 

Thomas Rowley 
James Goodwin 



110 



SURVEYORS OF BYE ROADS 

FOR WALSALL. 



Appointed 
October. 

1783 John Badger 
William Spurrier 

1784 Richard Barber 
William Spurrier 

1785 Joseph Haden 
William Spurrier 

1786 Joseph Haden 
John Heeley 

1787 Thomas Cooper 
Samuel Birch 

1788 Thomas Fi field 
John Higgs 

1789 Thomas Fifield 
Edward Lycett 

1700 Thomas James 
Robert Smith 

1791 Thomas James 
Benjamin Brodhurst 

1792 Joseph Burn 
George Harper 

1793 Samuel Barber 
William Nevill 



Appointed 
October. 

1794 Thomas Clifford 
Charles Messenger 

1795 Thomas Clifford 
John Bramidge 

1796 Thomas Clifford 
John Bramidge 

1797 Peter Cooper 
John Bramidge 

179S Peter Cooper 

John Bramidge 

1799 Thomas Carter 
Thomas Bladon 

1800 Thomas Carter 
Thomas Bladon 

1801 Thomas Carter 
Thomas Bladon 

1802 Thomas Carter 
Thomas Bladon 

1803 Thomas Nicholls 
John Adams 

1804 John Thompson 
Joseph Simpson 



Ill 



A p pointed 
October. 

1805 John Marlow 
Joseph Middleton 

1806 John Marlow 
Joseph Middleton 

1807 John Nicholls 
Joseph Jenns 

1808 John Nicholls 
Joseph Jenns 



Appointed 
October. 

1809 John Nicholls 
Joseph Jenns 

1810 Joseph Jenns 
William Clarkson 

1811 Joseph Jenns 
William Clarkson 

1812 William Clarkson 
John Davis 



PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP 

In Walsall and its Vicinity. 



BRIDGE-STREET CHAPEL. 

The Chapel in Bridge-street was erected in the 
year of our Lord 1790-, upon ground purchased by 
public subscription, and by the sale of a chapel in 
Dudley-street; it is occupied by a congregation of 
Protestant Dissenters of the Independent denomina- 
tion, and will contain about twelve hundred people. 

The inside is uniform and handsomely pewed ; 
two large corresponding seats in the gallery are ap- 
propriated to the accommodation of a Sunday School 
upon Mr. Lancaster's plan, consisting of forty boys 
and forty girls. 



112 

The present minister, the Rev. Thomas Grow?, 
has officiated about eighteen years, and by his all. 
and gentlemanly deportment, together with a strict 
adherence to the duties of his profession, has gained 
universal rcsj> 



OLD MEETfNG HOUSE, BANK COURT. 

After the destruction of the building belonging to 
the dissenters of the ancient Presbyterian denomina- 
tion, which happened in the violent days of Sache- 
verell, and at the coronation of King.George the first, 
October, 1714, it was re-built by government, 1715. 
The minister of that day was the Rev. John God ley, 
of the University of Leyden, who harangued the mob 
and desired them to abandon their intention of 
destroying the placp. They assure,^ lufn that, from 
personal respect, he should not be injured, and press- 
ing him earnestly to depart: to avoid being a witness to 
the scene, he went away, and the pile was instantly 
levelled to the ground. — The succeeding ministers 
were the Rev. Warner Dobson, Rev. It. Winter, Rev. 
D.Jones, Rev. N. Jones, Rev. T. E. Beasley, Rev. B. 
Davis, Rev. T. Moore, and the Rev. Thomas 
Bo wen. 

This meeting house is situated in Bank Court, on 
the left-hand side leading towards the church — -will 
contain about 400 persons, and was for near sixty 
years the only dissenters' meeting house in the place. 



113 

A Sunday School, on the general plan, was esta- 
blished by this society, under the Rev. T. E. Beasley, 
about 24 years ago, on an extensive scale; but the 
school now existing was established in 1803, and with 
the assistance of an annual charity sermon, a limited 
number of from SO to 35 children are clothed and 
educated. 

The present minister, the Rev. Thomas Bowen, 
who is also master of an academy in Rushall-strect, 
has officiated, with great satisfaction to his congrega- 
tion, about 18 years. This gentleman has invented 
and produced a machine for describing lines of longi- 
tude and latitude in maps. 

This apparatus will be found very useful in fami- 
lies and seminaries of education, as it will enable even 
children of moderate abilities, without other assistance, 
to draw the lines of longitude and latitude of the maps 
of the World, Europe, Asia, Africa, and America^ 
with mathematical accuracy, facility and expedition. 
Sold by Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 
Paternoster Row. 

For the utility of this apparatus, reference may be 
had to the Rev. A braham Rees, D. D. F. R. S and F. L. S. 
editor of the new Cyclopaedia ; and also to the R,ev. 
Thomas Rees, No. G, Barnard's Inn, London, where 
a specimen may be seen. 

The Rev. Thomas Bowen has, nearly ready for 
>\\q press, Geographical Exercises, for the use of 



114 

Bchools, containing a method lor constructing scales 
to describe the litres of longitude and latitude. Also 
the third edition of his English Grammar. 

On Nov. 14th, 1S00, he established a permanent 
library,* and generously proposed to find a room and 
librarian, without expence to the subscribers, until it 
should become too extensive to be accommodated in 
his house ; — that being now the case, it is removed to 
a public room, at Valentine and Throsby's, stationers, 
High-street, where it is expected to flourish, and 
furnish the present and future generations With a 
copious fund of rational entertainment and improve- 
ment. 

METHODIST CHAPEL, 

Situate in Paradise Court, on the right-hand side 
of High-street, leading to the church. This chapel 
was erected in the year of our Lord 1801, is neatly 
fitted up, and will contain about 400 persons. — The 
congregation attending this place of worship are of 
the Westleyan connexion. 

BLOXW1CH CHAPEL. 

This Chapel is pleasantly situated in the middle of 
a large burial ground, anl has been lately planted round 

* The Laws of this Library were published liy Valentine and 
Tnrosh'y, booksellers, 



115 

■with trees ; it is distant two miles from Walsall, on the 
left-hand side of tbe turnpike road leading 10 Stafford, 
and when re-built in the year of our Lord 1791, was 
considerably enlarged, and is now capable of contain- 
ing about 1100 persons. The inside is handsomely 
pewed, and there are also spacious galleries, the 
dimensions of which are in length 65 feet 6 inches, 
and in breadth 40 feet G inches. It is a Chapel of Ease 
to the vicarage of Walsall, and the curacy is in the 
gift of St. John's College, Cambridge; but the choice 
of the minister is left to the inhabitants. 

It is a perpetual curacy, and has lately received 
Queen Ann's Bounty, agreeable to the late augmenta- 
tion granted by an act of parliament passed in 1811. 

The income of this chapel and the sources from 
which it arises will be seen iuthe annexed statement. 



An Account of ihc Income of Bloxwich Chapel. 

£. s. d. 
From the Merchant Taylors', left by Mr. 

Parker, a Merchant 20 

A piece of land called the Parson's Piece, 

held by Mr. Whatley 3 5 

A meadow by Bloxwich turnpike, held by 

Samuel Kcndrick 2 10 



Carried forward . . 2.5 13 O 



J 10 

JP. s, tf. 

Brought forward .. ,. .. , , 03 13 

Another piece called the Parson's Piece at 
the top of the Black Horse Farm, and 
next the lane that goe? to Harden, held 
by T. Oakley . . . . . . . . 2 3 

John Taylor, by his will, left a small piece 
of land, inclosed, behind Humphrey 
Brookes's house . . . . . . . . 1 I 

From Langthorn's Dole, paid hy William 
Smith, the Clerk, the table of which is 
in Walsall Church 3 

The curate of Bloxwich receives from the 
Clergy's Meeting, at Cannock, yearly, 
about .. .. .. .. ..500 

.£100 in money, out of Mr. Walhouse's 
estates, from which he pays 5 per cent, 
interest . . . . . . . . .,500 



40 17 



Mrs. Pyrcombe's charily, distributed on St. Peter's 
Day, gives o£l00, when .i 100 is already given as a 
benefaction for augmenting livings. The trustee is 
James Barnard, Esq. Crowcombe Court, near Taunton, 
Somersetshire. 

The above, together with some charities, produce 
only the trifling sum of of 50 per annum ; — a small 
stipend for the duty required by an increased popu- 
lation. — The present minister is the Rev. Thomas 



117 

llecto'i Spunier, I..L. B. late of Worcester College, 
Oxford. 

There is only oik: Sunday School attached to this 
chapel at present, and that for hoys, the number that 
receive instruction is upwards of 800; but it is in the 

contemplation of the committee to institute one for 
girls. 

There is a day school in the chapel yard, where 
there are <lb hoys taught wiiting and arithmetic, for 
•which the trustees of Walsall Grammar School pay 
John Green, the present master, i£25 per annum for 
their instruction. 

The minister also pays £8 per annum to instruct 
15 boys to read. 

Henry Whateley, Esq. by his will, dated the 1st 
of August, 1790i gave to the' vicar of Walsall, and the 
two chapel-wardens of Bloxwich, £(i. yearly, for 
ever, chargeable upon two pieces of land, at Colcpool, 
in the occupation of Benjamin Riley; upon trust that 
the said vicar and two chapel-wardens, shall give four 
guineas among such old and infirm men and women, 
being parishioners of Bloxwich, and not receiving pay 
from the overseers, as the said vicar and chapel- 
wardens, or any two of them shall think proper, upon 
St. Thomas's Day, or as soon after as convenient ; 
and shall also pay to the olliciating curate of Blox- 
wich chapel, one guinea, on his preaching a sermon, 
in Bloxwich chapel, on St. Thomas's day ; and that 



118 



the said vicar and chapel-wardens may expend the 
remaining 15s. in regaling themselves ofter llie dis- 
tribution. 



The following allotment of Land on Essington Wood, was 
granted by Commissioners under a right of claim of other 
Charity Land, held by Mr. , of Bloxwich. 

d>tg BiUfcllttllg made the twenty-fourth day of 
March, in the tifty-second year of the reign of our sovereign 
Lord, George the Third, hy the grace of God of the 
TTnited Kingdom of Great. Britain and Ireland, king, 
defender of the faith, and in the year of our Lord, one 
thousand eight hundred and twelve, T&ttiBMlx Thomas 
Pearce of the Foreign of Walsall, in the county of Stafford, 
gentleman, and Joseph Harrison, of the Foreign of Wai- 
sall aforesaid, farmer, churchwardens for the said Foreign 
of Walsall of the one part, and William Bodenham of 
the Foreign of Walsall aforesaid, yeoman, of the other 
part, 22Hitneu"et|> that the said Thomas Pearce and Joseph 
Harrison for and in consideration of the yearly rents and 
covenants hereinafter reserved and contained, and which 
on the part and behalf of the said William Bodenham his 
executors, administrators, and assigns, are or ought to be 
paid, kept, done, and performed, C^at|> demised, leased, 
and to farm let, and by these presents Don) demise, lease, 
and to farm let, unto the said William Bodenham 81F 
that piece or parcel of land, being an allotment to them 
the said Thomas Pearce and Joseph Harrison, upon 
Essington Wood, in the said county of Stafford, and 
containing by mensuration four acres and an half, or 



110 

i hereabouts, be. the some more or less, together with all 
loads, ways', waters, water courses, easements, commons, 
privi ledges and appurtenances whatsoever thereto be- 
longing, Co fyabc anU to fjolD the 6aid piece or parcel of 
land hereby demised, or intended so to be, unto the said 
William Bodenham, his executors, administrators and 
assigns, from the twenty-fifth day of March next ensuing 
the date hereof, for and during, and unto the full end. 
and term of seventeen years, thence next ensuing, and 
fully to be compleat and ended. 2?ierDin8 anU paging 
therefore yearly and every year during the first three years 
of tire said term, unto the said Thomas Pearce and Joseph 
Harrison, their heirs, successors or assigns, the clear yearly 
rent or sum of one shilling, of lawful British money, 
the first payment thereof, to begin and be made on the 
twenty-ninth day of September next ensuing the date 
hereof. 3nti alfo gieltitng an"D papins therefore, in each and 
every year, during the residue of the said term of seventeen 
years, unto the said Thomas Pearce aud Joseph Harrison, 
their heirs, successors or assigns, the clear yearly rent or 
sum of four pounds ami ten shillings, of lawful money 
of the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 
current in England, free from all deduction whatsoever, 
either parliamentary or parochial, on the two most usual 
days or times of payment in the year; (that is to say) 
the twenty-ninth day of September, and the twenty-fifth 
day of March, in each and every year of the said term, 
by equal portions; the first payment thereof to begin 
and he made on the twenty-ninth day of September, which 
will be in the year of our Lord one thousand eight 
hundred and fifteen. Ami the said William Bodeuham- 
doth hereby, for himself, his heirs, executors, and adminis- 
trators and assigns, covenant, promise, and agree to. 



1-20 

and with the said Thomas Pearce and Joseph Harrison* 
their heirs, assigns and successors in manner following, 
(that is to say) That he the 6aid William Bodenham* his- 
executors, administrators, and assigns, shall and will, 
yearly and every year, during the aforesaid term of seven- 
teen years, to commence as aforesaid, shall and will, and 
truly pay or cause to be paid the said yearly rents hereby 
reserved on the days and times and in manner herein before 
appointed for that purpose, according to the reservations 
and true intent and meaning of these presents. And 
also that he the said William Bodenham shall and will, 
at his own expense within twelve months from the date 
hereof, fence out the said allotment, piece or parcel of 
land, in a good and husbandlike manner, with good posts 
and rails, and shall and will plant round the same, a good 
hawthorn hedge row, and shall and will during the said 
term keep in good and sufficient repair, the gates, bounds 
and fences belongingto the said piece or parcel of land and 
premises, and scour and cleanse all the ditches and water- 
courses on the said premises, and shall and will leave 
the same well and sufficiently repaired, scoured and cleansed 
at the end or other sooner determination of the said term. 
And also that he the said William Bodenham shall and 
will, during the said term, work and manage the said 
piece or parcel of land and premises, in a fair and husband- 
like manner, and shall not commit any waste or spoil there- 
upon. And also that he the said William Bodenham, his 
executors and administrators shall and will in the spring 
season of the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty- 
six, lay the said piece or parcel of land down for meadow 
land, in a good and husband-like manner, and shall and 
will in like manner sow upon each acre thereof, twelve 
pounds of good read clover seed, one peck of good rye 



121 

grHssi, and six pounds of good Dutch or white Hover 
seed, and shall and will at the same time and in a husband- 
like manner, lay and spread upon each and every acre of 
the said piece or parcel of land eight full carts load of 
good rottoa dung at the least, and also shall and will 
keep and use the said piece or parcel of land in grass, 
and as and for meadow laud during the residue of the 
said term. Provided always, and these presents are upon 
this condition, that if the said yearly rent hereinbefore 
reserved or any part thereof shall happen to be behind 
and unpaid by the space of twenty-one days next after 
any of the said days or times hereinbefore appointed for 
payment thereof, (being lawfully demanded) or if the said 
William Bodenham shall not in all things well and truly 
observe, perform, and keep all and every the covenants, 
articles, anel agreements hereinbefore contained on his and 
their parts and behalfs, that this present lease, and every 
matter, clause, and thing herein contained on the lesser 
part shall be void, and then and from thenceforth it shall 
and may be lawful to and for the said Thomas Pearce 
and Joseph Harrison, their heirs, assigns or successors, 
into and upon the said demised premises or any part 
thereof, in the name of the whole to re-enter, and the 
same to have again, re-possess, and enjoy, as in his and 
their first and former estate, any thing hereiu contained 
to the cont.ary thereof in anywise notwithstanding; and 
the said Thomas Pearce and Joseph Harrison, doth hereby 
for themselves, their heirs, executors, administrators, assigns 
and successors, covenant and agree to and with the said 
William Bodenham, his executors, administrators ami 
assigns, that he the said William Bodenham, his executors, 
administrators and assigns, paying the said yearly rents 
in the proportions in manner uud at the times aforesaid, 

R 



322 



and performing all and every the covenants and agreements 
hereinbefore contained on his or their parts and behalfs, 
shall and may from time to time and at all times during 
the said term hereby granted peaceably and quietly, have, 
hold, use, occupy, possess, and enjoy all and singular 
the said premises hereby demised, with the appurtenances, 
without any let, suit, trouble, hindrance,, molestation, 
interruption, or disturbance of them the said Thomas 
Pearce and Joseph Harrison, their heirs, assigns, or suc- 
cessors, or of any other persons whomsoever, lawfully 
clairaiug or to claim by, from, or under them, or either or 
any of them, or by or through their or any of their acts,, 
means, defaults, privity, consent, or procurement. 3ft 
Wlitntgta whereof, the said paities to these presents have 
hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first 
before written* 

THOMAS PEARCE. 

JOSEPH HARRISON. 

WILLIAM BODENHAM, 

BAPTISMS AT BLOXWICH CHAPEL. 





Males. 




Females. 


1801 


24 


• • • 


2 


1802 


31 




30 


1S03 


46 


• • • 


32 


1804 


37 


• • • 


30 


1S05 


43 


• • • 


49 


1806 


41 




42 


1807 


49 


• • • 


36 


1808 


40 


• * • 


34 


1809 


46 


• • • 


27 



123 



ieio 



Baptisms continued. 




Males. 


Females 


40 


42 



397 



342 



Total baptisms 739 



BURIALS AT BLOXWICH CHAPEL. 





Males. 


Female 


1801 


60 


61 


1S02 


•22 


33 


1803 


20 


16 


1804 


17 


17 


1805 


26 


17 


1806 


24 


25 


1807 


26 


21 


1808 


19 


10 


1809 


26 


.... 22 


1810 


17 


. . . . 2S 




257 


245 



Total burials 602 



METHODIST CHAPEL AT BLOXWICH. 

This chapel is situate near Short Heath, on the 
right-hand side leading from Walsall to Stafford, was 



124 

erected in the year of our Lord 17 81 ; it is 18 feet 
3 inches by 29 feet 3 inches inside, and will contain 
about 400 persons. 

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPEL. 

At Bloxwich, about a mile and a half on the road 
from Walsall to Stafford:, is a Roman Catholic Chapel, 
dedicated to St. Thomas, the Apostle. This chapel 
was enlarged in the year of our Lord 1808, and is a 
small but neat place of worship, capable of containing 
between three or four hundred persons. It is adorned 
with some beautiful paintings— rthe altar-piece, repre- 
senting the dead body of our Saviour after its being 
taken down from the cross, is much admired. The 
present pastor is the Kev. Francis Marlyn. 



Public and Private 

INSTITUTIONS. 

EREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 

This School is situate by the side of the church. — 
Queen Mary, by her Letters Patent, under the great 
seal, dated the 2nd day of July, in the first year of her 
reign, did found a Free Grammar School, in Walsall, 
and' did nominate and appoint ten persons of the 



125 

village and j>arish of Walsall, to be governors of the 
possessions and goods thereof. — And she did thereby 
grant to the said governors and (heir successors for 
« ver, in trust for the said school, certain estates, &c. 
&c. which are amply detailed in the Report of the 
Committee for Public Charities, and published in 
1804. 

FREE SCHOOL IN PARK-STREET. 

Here is a day school where 50 boys are taught 
reading, English grammar, writing, and arithmetic, by 
the present master, Mr. Thomas Mason, for whose 
instruction he receives a salary of £60 per annum, 
paid by the trustees of the Free Grammar School. 

NEW CHARITY SCHOOL, 

Situate in Bridge-street, was erected at the ex- 
pence of the inhabitants and some donations, in the 

year of our Lord .* Mr. Benj. Brodhurst is the 

present master. 

WORKHOUSE. 

Adjoins the church-yard, and the new part of it, 
was erected by Mr. Samuel Fletcher and Mr. Richard 
Wathew, overseers of the poor, in the year 1799, con- 

* See page s^ of this History, for Shaw's account of the old school 

and establishment. 



126 

tains a dining-room 42 feet long, and 15 feet wide, 
■with two lodging rooms over it, of the same dimen- 
sions, very pleasant and airy ; also a large room in 
which the poor are employed in spinning woollen and 
linen for their own wear. It is very inconveniently 
situated on account of the difficulty of conveyance to 
it, and all the soft water is carried by hand, by poor 
persons in the house, for the purposes of washing, 
&c. &c for a numerous family. — Tvvohundredand ten 
poor persons have been lodged in this house, in the 
year 1801. 

Receptacles for the poor should invariably be 
situated at an easy distance from a town, in a healthy 
situation, and where water could be readily obtained; 
and the out premises should afford room for the 
children's exercise. To rear hearty children is not 
only a blessing in itself, but at all times desirable to 
produce such hands that may be useful in a manufac- 
turing district. 

Copy of Inscription on the Stone put up at Walsall 
Workhouse when first erected. 

<e These houses were bought of Mr. Thomas Harris, 
of Worcester, by the Corporation, for the use of the 
poor of Walsall. 

" The Mayor paying yearly to the Organist £4 
per annum, in the Mayoralty of Richard Burrowes, 
1717." 



127 

There is also a Workhouse at Bloxwich, situate 
near the chapel, in an open and airy situation: it will 
comfortably contain upwards of 100 persons. 



f "P'J °f a Memorandum for the building of the Work' 
house, extracted from the Vestry Book. 

Memorandum. 

It is agreed upon by a Vestry, the 11th day of 
June, 1727, then appointed and held in the parish 
church of Walsall, that a Workhouse shall be built. 
As witness our hands, 

J. Etheridge, Mayor, 

John Moss, Minister, 

Thos. Nicholls, ") __ 

_. , I Churchwarden*. 

Henry Head, j 

Win. Cotterell, ~) , 

c 1 Ti/r \ Overseers, 

Samuel Martyn, y 

And signed by many others. 

SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 

There are four Sunday Schools in the town of 
Widsall, supported by annual subscription, with the 
assistance of two charity sermons in the year. The 
number of children attending is upwards of 400, for 
the management of which there is a committee of ten 
persons, with a president and treasurer. 



12$ 

NEW MARKET PLACE, 

Situate at the top of the High-street, adjoining the 
steps leading to the church, was erected, in the year of 
our Lord 1809, at the ex pence of the corporation of 
this town, and during the mayoralty of Joseph 
Curtis, Esq.* 

POST OFFICE, 

Situate near the George Inn. 

The sum annually remitted from this Post Office 
for letters coming to the town is nearly £2000, but 
from the peculiar nature of the business of his place, 
the letters sent from hence exceed those coming to it, 
in the proportion of about (j to 1, so that the whole 
revenue will not amount to less than 12 or £14,000 
per year. 



PLACES 



PUBLIC AMUSEMENT. 



GRAND STAND, 

Situate on the Race Ground, was erected aim. dom. 
1809, by subscription, in shares of £25 each, and co9t 

* See page si in this work for Shaw's account of the old ooe. 



129 

about £1300 ; eacli subscriber to receive interest for 
his money and a free ticket transferable at pleasure. 
It filled at the races which took place on the 27th and 
28th of September, in the same year, with a numer- 
ous and respectable company. 

Through the usual munificence of Lord Bradford, 
to this town, a lease has been granted for the road and 
land, containing 1(35 square yards, on which it stands, 

Commencing 25th of March, 1809 
For years 99 



Expires 25th of March,. . . . 1.008 



At the annual Rent of One Shilling. 

The beginning of the lease runs thus: — This 
Indenture made the 7th day of October, in the year of 
our Lord 1811, between the Right Hon. Orlando Lord 
Bradford, Baron Bradford, of Bradford, in the county 
of Salop, of the one part, and Henry Crocket, of Little 
Onn Hall, in the county of Stafford, Esq. Nathaniel 
Gooding Clarke, of Handsworth, in the said county of 
Stafford, Esq. John Walhouse, of Atherton, in the said 
county of Stafford, Esq. John Clements Whateley, of 
Birch-Hills, in the parish of Walsall, in the said 
county of Stafford, Esq. James Adams, gent. John 
Stubbs, banker, John Vaughan Barber, gent, all of 
Walsall aforesaid, and Joseph Stubbs, of the parish of 
Handsworth aforesaid, gent, of the other part. Where- 
as the said Henry Crocket, Nathaniel Gooding Clarke, 

s 



J 30 

John Walhouse, John Clements Whateley, James 
Adams, John Stubbs, John Vaughan Barber, and 
Joseph Stubbs, together with divers other persons, by 
subscription, at their joint ex pence, have erected and 
completed, upon the piece or parcel of land intended 
to be hereby demised, a certain building or stand for 
the accommodation of the company attending the 
horse races, which are accustomed to be holden at 
Walsall, in the county of Stafford. And .whereas the 
said Orlando Lord Bradford, hath consented and 
agreed to grant a lease of the said piece or parcel of 
land and building to the said Henry Crocket, &c. &c. 
&c— The lease is signed and sealed, 

BRADFORD. 

In the presence of 
Beilby Lawley, of Middleton Park, Tamworth, 
Henry Bowman, of Knockin Hall, near Oswestry, 
Shropshire. 

Architect for Grand Stand, Mr. B, Wyatt, Sutton 
Coldfield; 

Builders for Grand Stand, Messrs, William Nevill 
and Thomas Carter, both of Walsall. 

Stewards of Walsall Races, 

Chas. Adams Walter Spurrier 

Chas. Berrington William Nicholls 

J. C. Whateley, esq, Richard Adams 

J. V. Barber John Stubbs 

John Adams William Adams 
Richard Jesson 



131 

The above gentlemen have been stewards, but as 
the y^ars cannot be accurately obtained, they are 
entirely omitted. 

Fur the For the 

Years. Years. 

1808 Right Hon. Orlando 1810 Sir R. Lawley, bart. 

Lord Bradford PhineasHussey,esq. 

N. G. Clarke, esq. 18L1 Sir J.Wrottesley,bt. 

1809 Henry Crocket, esq. T.Gifford, jun.esq. 
John Walhouse, esq. 

Thos. Pearce, Clerk of the Races. 

1812 Hon. G. A.Bridgeman* 
Edward Anson, esq. 

Thos. Pearce, Clerk of the Races. 

BILLIARD TABLE. 

This Billiard Table, which is open by annual sub- 
scription, is placed in one of the lower rooms of the 
Grand Stand ; it is an elegant table, and was formerly 
the private table and property belonging to Lord 
Chichester Spencer, of Fisherwick Park. 

ASSEMBLY ROOMS. 

At the George Inn and Hotel, kept by Mr. Richard 
Moore Fletcher, is a very spacious Assembly Room 

* The Hon. G. A. Bridgcman being abroad. Lord Bradford presided 
at the ordinaries on the voce'daye, and kindly officiated for his ton. 



132 

which was erected in 1793, and is fitted up with three 
beautiful cut-glass chandeliers, and an ochestra for 
musicians, and will admit fifty couples to dance 
without inconvenience. 

At the Dragon Inn, situate in the High-street, 
kept by Mr. James Wakeman, is a large Assembly 
Room, and was, previous to the building of the 
theatre, in the Square, taken by the late Samuel 
Stanton, for many seasons, erecting, within the same, 
a temporary theatre, consisting of a pit and gallery, 
in which his company used to perform to many an 
overflowing house. 



THEATRE, 

Situate in the Square, was erected in 1803, by 
subscription, in shares of <£50, each subscriber to 
receive interest for his money, and a silver ticket 
transferable at pleasure. It is leasehold property, and 
the ground on which it stands was granted by James 
Adams, esq. for the term of 99 years. The inside is 
neatly fitted up with boxes, pit, and gallery, and the 
receipts of a full house will produce from <£50 to £60. 
It has lately been rented from Mr. Watson, of the 
Cheltenham theatre, by Mrs. Elizabeth Nunns, a 
daughter of the late Samuel Stanton, who visited this 
town many seasons, as manager of a respectable com- 
pany of comedians. 



133 



BOWLING GREENS. 

At the Dragon Inn, kept by Mr. James Wakeman, 
there is an excellent Bowling Green. 

At the Dog and Partridge, situate at the Windmill, 
there is a pleasant Bowling Green, on which is erected 
a room for the accommodation of the visitors, which 
commands an extensive view of the adjacent 
country. 

At the Wheat Sheaf Inn, there is a Bowling 
Green, in the occupancy of Joseph Cooper, situate 
in Birmingham-street, commanding a view of Barr 
Beacon, and the country towards Birmingham. 

COCK PIT. 

Situate on the left-hand side of the entrance into 
Park-street from Digbeth, at the bottom of a yard 
belonging to Mr. Fox, known by the sign of the New 
Inn. It is the property of Mr. Charles Perks, and ig 
spacious and much frequented at the time of the races, 
at which period only it is used. 



134 



MINES. 



LIMESTONE MINES, 

The property of the Right Hon. Orlando Lord 
Bradford, in the occupancy of Thomas Price, esq. 
of Bescot Hall, are situated on the left hand side of 
the road leading from Walsall to Wolverhampton, 
near the end of the Birmingham navigation, which 
terminates at the top of Park-street, and consists of 
a solid bed of stone of near ten yards thick, of excel- 
lent quality, which extends under the whole of the 
coal and ironstone mines in the neighbourhood; large 
quantities of this limestone are sent to the iron- 
furnaces within its vicmity, as a flux for the ironstone 
ore, and is brought into a state of fusion with that 
mineral : coal or coke is used in the semelting the 
ore, and when the ironstone is of a good quality, 
it takes about one ton three hundred of limestone 
to a proper portion of the ore in making one ton of 
pig iron. 

BIRCH ILLS COLLIERY, 

COAL AND IRONSTONE MINES, 

situate at Birchills, and at the distance of about 
one mile from Walsall, the property of Messrs. Stubbs 
and James; here is a blast furnace erected, and large 



135 

quantities of pig iron manufactured; adjoining is also 
u clay mine, which is made into bricks and tiles, 
and from the excellent quality of the clay they are 
enabled to make fire bricks. 

GOSCOTT COLLIERY 

is situate at Goscott, about two miles from Walsall. 
This coal mine is worked by Messrs. Bradley and Co. 
Goscott, and contains a bed of coal of excellent quality; 
the bed is fourteen feet thick, whereas the veins of 
coal in the pits of this neighbourhood do not exceed 
eight feet, — the Wyrley and Essington canal runs 
through the middle of the colliery. 

An exploring mine has been lately opened by the 
Right Hon. Orlando Lord Bradford, situate near 
James Bridge, on the road leading from Walsall to 
Darlaston, and appears to abound in ironstone, and 
some measures of thin coal; but the quantity of 
water they have to contend with, has hitherto pre- 
vented their sinking sufficiently deep to discover 
what the bowels of the earth contain. 

HAYHEAD MIKES. 

GREY LIMESTONE MINGS, 

situate at Hayhead, in the occupation of Mr. John 
Brindley, at the distance of about two miles from 
SValsall, on the left hand side the road leading from 
Walsall to Sutton Coldfield. 



136 

This last mentioned mine produces lime which 
is remarkably good for cementing in water, and is 
for its peculiar quality conveyed to considerable 
distances, for the purpose of constructing locks, 
bridges, aqueducts, &c. The proprietors are the 
Right Hon. Orlando Lord Bradford, Sir Joseph Scott, 
Bart. Thomas Daniell, esq. the executors of the 
late John Wilkinson, esq. and the governors of Walsall 
Free Grammar School ; the strata of the Hayhead 
Mines are open and thin, and the rock not sufficiently 
firm to get by shafts, so that the whole is procured 
by open work. 

The greatest quantity of limestone raised is from 
the adjoining parish of Rushall, which borders very 
near to the north east part of the town of Walsall, 
here the stone is almost without an exception, raised 
through shafts by the power of steam, and some 
part is got by what is called open work, — by this 
term is meant that the spoil upon the surface is 
removed and the limestone laid bare, and then broke 
small enough to remove into carriages, boats, &c. &c, 
for the purposes of husbandry, &c. &c; but the 
greatest part of the limestone is got by sinking a 
shaft, excavating the mine, and drawing it up through 
the shaft. 

Dr. Plot in his Natural History takes notice of 
a very fine limestone that polishes like marble, 
which is got in the southern parts of this county; 
" And all about Walsall, particularly at Rushall, 



137 

in the lands of the learned Henry Leigh, esq.*" 
Speaking also of ironstone, he says, " at Walsall 
and Rushall they also divide their iron-ore into se- 
veral sorts, such as, 1, hlack bothnm; 2, gray bo- 
thum; y, chatterpye, being of the colour of a mag- 
pie; 4, gray measure; 5, mush; 6, white mea- 
sure. The two first whereof are seldom made use 
of, they are so very poor; the two middle sorts but 
indifferent; the two last the principal sorts; but 
mush the best of all, being many times filled with 
a brisk sweet liquor, which the workmen drink gree- 
dily, and so very rich an ore, that they say it may 
be made into iron in a common forge." " The 
fourth, and best sort of iron, they call tough iron, 
of which they make all sorts of the best wares, there 
being nothing so good but may be made of this* 
for which they have their ore chiefly at Rushall, in 
the grounds of the worshipful Henry Leigh, esq.f" 

" And thus I had finished my account of the iron 
ores found in this county, but that I think the sweet 
liquor that attends some of them may deserve a 
little farther consideration, whereof I received a 
most accurate account from the worshipful Henry 
Leigh, of Rushall, esq. in whose land's, particularly 
in the Mill meadow, in the park; or in the Moss 
close, near the old vicarage house, and near the 
furnace piece or leasow, it is frequently met with 

• Plotl's Staffordshire, p. 153. 
f Ibid. p. 15() and HJl. 

T 



138 



amongst the best sort of ironstone, called mush; in 
round or oval blackish and reddish stone, sometimes 
as big as the crown of one's hat, hollow, and like a 
honey-comb within, and holding a pint of this mat- 
ter; which, according to the colour of the comb 
within, (whatever the stone be without,) is either 
red, or white, and, whether the one or the other, 
of a sweet sharp taste, very cold and cutting, yet 
greedily drank by the workmen.*" 

" PRESENT LIME WORKS AT RUSHALL. 

Moss close, situated between the manor house 
and Walsall, at the boundaries of the parishes. 

These ancient works had lain dormant for a num- 
ber of years, since Plot's time, till about twenty years 
ago they were worked again by open work, but, in 
the year 1791, the present curious and more faci- 
litating mode of work took place. The whole 
thickness of the mine is about nine or ten yards. 
The technical terms of the different floors, or strata, 
are, the first or uppermost, the Covering Burr, the 
Thick Burr, Chipping Floor, Captain John, Seven 
Floors, the yellow Clay Floor, the Flinty Floor, 
Wotty Floor, Thick Floor, Rotten Floors, and Bottom 
Floor. 

At the bottom of the yellow clay floor is a small 
list of clay, which being taken out with a pike, the 

* PloU's Staffordshire, p. 109 and 161. 



139 

upper sfratas are blown downwards by drilling holes 
horizontally, and the lower strata are blown upwards 
by drilling perpendicularly. 

These works, being deep, and productive of much 
water, are necessarily kept dry by steam engines. 

There is another work, situated near Daw End, 
in this parish, called the Upper Park Work, a 
little to the North-east of the manor house. This is 
precisely the same as the former, except that this dips 
Westward, and the former Northward. 

A third work is now opening again, alter many years 
rest, called Linley, about a mile North-east from the 
house, which, like the former, requires the assistance 
of engines. There are several other similar mines in 
this lordship, principally belonging to the lord of the 
manor, which have been formerly worked, and no 
doubt will be soon opened again. 

The demand for lime at these works is much 
greater than can be at present supplied. The price 
is 4s. 3d. per quarter or ten bushels. 

The Wyrley and Essington canal, passing near the 
two last works, will open a market for the stone in its 
raw state, and will reciprocally supply them with coal. 

When hearth money was collected, about 1660, 
here were 73 hearths paid 71. 6s. 

Poor's rates in 1776, 901. 14s. 2d. 



140 

Medium of money paid in three years, 1735 being 
the last, 1621. 6s. Sd. 

Moseley's Dole-penny, which is distributed yearly, 
upon Twelfth Day, at Walshall and the adjacent vil- 
lages, as there more fully noticed, is also given to 
all poor people residing in this parish at that time, 
and in the same circumstances as those of Walshall; 
on which account, this village is thought to have 
been formerly a part of the Forraigne of Walsall."* 

LIMESTONE MINE, 

Ihe property of James Adams, esq. situate within a 
few hundred yards of Walsall, adjoining the mines of 
John Walhouse, esq. and the Rev. Edward Mellish, 
in the parish of Rushall. 

There are] several stratas of ironstone, laying over 
the limestone, and a small portion of lead ore has 
been also found amongst the limestone. 

These mines have been opened about eight years, 
and the quality of the limestone will well suit the 
purposes of husbandry, and is particularly calculated 
for the smelting of iron ore; the last shaft sunk by 
Mr. Adams in this mine, is of the depth of ninety- 
nine yards; and the bed of stone eleven yards thick, 
and is of superior quality. 

The working of the various mines gives employ- 
ment to a great number of hands, but it is to b« 

* Shaw's Staffordshire, p. 66 and 67. 



141 

lamented, that the falling of the rock is frequently 
fatal to the miners, and accidents are often happening 
from the machinery, &c. 

RYECROFT SAND MINES, 

the separate property of James and Charles Adams, 
esqrs. are extensive, and situate about one mile on 
the right hand side of the road leading from Walsall 
to Stafford. These mines prod ice sand adapted for 
various purposes; the white sand is calculated for the 
manufacture of glass, and there is an excellent loam 
sand for the purpose of fine casting, and an inferior 
»ort that is used for building. 

CLAY MINE, 

situate near Walsall, the property of Samuel Wood. 
Bricks, tiles, sough tiles and quarries are made here; 
there is, also, another clay mine about one mile distant 
from Walsall, situate on the right hand of the road to 
Birmingham, where the same articles are manufac- 
tured. 



142 



TRADES 



MANUFACTURES. 



The man of science duly considers how infinitely 
>vise Providence has bestowed on various countries its 
peculiar local advantages; from which circumstance, 
the mutual exchange of produce employs millions of. 
human beings, fills the swelling sail, and forms the 
grand basis of commerce. 

This consideration naturally leads to the contem- 
plation of the local advantages possessed by the inha- 
bitants of this county, and particularly by those of this 
town and neighbourhood. The numerous and exten- 
sive mines of coal, lime-stone, iron ore, clay, &c. &c. 
which may be called the parents of trades and manu- 
factures, are found here of the best qualities and in 
the greatest abundance. They have been the means 
of producing the many iron furnaces, forges, and 
foundaries which have, for a succession of years, per- 
formed their ponderous task, converting the inestima- 
ble bowels of the earth into a source of employment 
for thousands of ingenious artists, and in such a 



143 

wonderful variety of manufacture, that to detail them 

would iill a volume. 

Some of these, the gun and bayonet,* in the hands 
of brave British soldiers have conquered the " invin- 
cible" legions of Buonaparte; and the cannon and 
balls, made at Bradley Iron Works. f and directed by 
a Nelson, have hurled (heir thunder upon the heads 
of our inveterate enemies, and contributed to the 
maintenance of the British empire upon the Main. 

For the information of the merchant and the 
stranger, it will be necessary to explain the business of 
a Walsall 

General Ironmonger and Manufacturer, 

from whose spirit and enterprize the three kingdoms 
are explored, his capital adventured, and who deals 
in various manufactures, and also every article into 
which iron, steel, and brass is convertible, for the pur- 
pose of furnishing both home and foreign markets. 

Articles manufactured in considerable, quantities in this 
town and within three miles distance t viz.: 

IRONMONGERY, 

that are used in building and furnishing houses, such i? 
as locks, hinges, bolls, pullics, latches, screws, grates, 
fenders, tire-irons, &c. 

* Manufactured at Wednesbury, about :? miles from Walsall, 
f Tlic works of the famous iron maeti r, the late John Wilkinsoa, 
J - * « i ■ »Uuat« ;it Bradley, about 3 miles frtmi Wal&iTl. 



144 



Kitchen Utensils. 

Pots, kettles, saucepans, coal-hods, grid-irons, 
chaffing-dishes, box and sad-irons, steelyards and scale 
beams, coffee mills, metal and iron tinned spoons, &e. 

Carpenters* Tools. 

Axes, adzes, hatchets, augers, hammers, chisseis, 
gouges, plane irons, squares, &c. 

Coopers' Tools. 

Axes, adzes, howels, drawing knives, spoke shave#> 
punches, drivers, chissels, &c. 

Plantation Stores. 

Hoes, hatchets, bill-hooks, matchets, bar iron, iron 
hoops, grind stones, &c. 

Nails, 

Both cast and wrought iron of every description. 

Locks, for all purposes. 
Cast-iron articles in general. 
Spades, shovels, frying pans, vices, trowels, files, 
&c. 

Patten Makers' Articles. 
Rings, ties, nails, rivets, &c. 



145 

Guns and pistols, and gun and pistol locks. 

Japanned and tin ware of every description. 

Brushes. 

Ivory and bone turnery. 

Braces. 

Snuffers, steel, iron and japanned. 

Buckles, metal, hat, knee and brace. 

SADDLERS' IRONMONGERY. 

Bridle bittsand bradoons, plated with silver, brass, 
or com position metal, or polished or tinned, 

Snaffles, plated with silver, brass, or composition 
metal, or polished or tinned. 

Stirrups, men's and women's, plated with silver, 
brass, or composition metal, or polished or tinned. 

Stirrups, jointed and spring, plated with silver or 
brass, or polished steel. 

Stirrups, ladies' clog, or Devon; also boys' clog. 

Spurs, plated, brass, or polished steel. 

Saddle trees, men's, women's, boys', or gig, 

Saddle bars, plain, rollered, and spring. 

Saddle nails, plated, silver, and brass. 

Bridle and martingale mountings, plated, polished, 
or tinned. 

Buckles, plain or rollered for siraps, girths, or 
stirrup leathers, plated, polished or tinned 

Curry combs of every kind. 

Chains, rings and squares, and all kinds of iron 
work used in making waggon or cart harness, black 
or tinned. 



146 



COACH FOUNDERY. 

Springs and steps and every other description of 
iron work used in the construction of carriages and 
also in the manufacture of harness; and all kinds of 
plated and brass articles used in finishing and decorat- 
ing the same. 



BRIDLE-CUTTING AND CURRYING OF 
LEATHER. 

The art of bridle-cutting is also an important 
branch of the manufactures of this town. It is a clean 
and light employ, in which a number of men, women, 
and boys are engaged. As the demand in this article 
is extensive, the returns made by the saddlers' iron- 
mongers carrying on this trade, are very considerable. 

Through the exertions of the curriers of this town, 
who have spared neither expence, time, or trouble in 
the mode of currying their leather, producing the most 
beautiful brown and fine jet black colours, the sad- 
dlers' ironmongers of this place have the pre-eminence 
in this particular branch of their manufacture. 

BRIDLE BITS 

Of every description are generally carried to the 
bridle-cutters, and by them tastefully mounted with 



147 

leather suitable to the demand, and for the trade of 
the country for which they are intended, some of which 
are superbly mounted with gilt and silver trappings, 
rosetts, &c. with martingales and cruppers to match, 
to the value of seventy guineas a single bridle ; and 
many made up in this town have been sent, with other 
presents, to foreign princes. 

Bridles, martingales, cruppers, holsters, horse collar 
heads, and a variety of other leather straps are manu- 
factured in Walsall, with which the army contractors 
in London are supplied by the saddlers' ironmongers, 
this place forming, at once, the seat of the manufactory 
of all kinds of saddlery goods. 

HARNESS. 

The progress made in the manufacture of harness 
of all descriptions has been very great, and the elegant 
chariot, the mail coach, and in short every two and 
four wheeled carriage are furnished with harness, by 
the saddlers' ironmongers of this town, in the highest 
state of perfection. And the waggon horse, the 
roadster, the hunter, the charger and the high mettled 
racer are by them caparisoned with what they respec- 
tively want. 

FILE AND PLATING MANUFACTORY. 

Here is a fde and plating manufactory on an ex- 
tensive scale, situate in Ablcwell-street, the former of 
which was established by the late Mr. John Heptin- 



us 

stall, about sixty years ago, and now carried on by Mr. 
Wm. Parker, who manufactures files of all descrip- 
tions, not only adapted for the purposes of the various 
trades of this country, but also for foreign markets. 

The manufacturers of this place have, from time 
to time received considerable improvements by the 
inventions of many ingenious mechanics, and for which 
several have been rewarded with his Majesty's Letters 
Patent. 

The remarks upon this head will be concluded 
with this singularly striking fact, — that Walsall, from 
its peculiarly centrical situation, surrounded with 
mines, procuring the raw material at the cheapest 
rate, manufacturing the same upon the very soil from 
whence it has been raised; conveyed, when manufac- 
tured, by canals which communicate with all the 
principal sea ports in the kingdom, must, from these 
combined causes,, continue to insure a trade to the 
enterprizing and industrious inhabitants of this town 
against all competition. 



Dttcctot)) 



OP 



WALSALL 

BOROUGH AND FOREIGN? 

&LC, &C. 



A. 

^\_DIE Jane, draper, High-street 

Ash John, brandy merchant, High-street 

Adam Thomas, surgeon, Park-street 

Adams John and Sons, (actors, Park-street 

Adams Charles, Park-street 

Adams John, Park-stree't 

Anderson Mary, milliner, Square 

Adams James, geut. and an alderman of the corporation, 

High— street 
Adums William, breeches-maker, High-street 
Adams Thomas, carrier, Kusludl-Htreet 
Adams Josiah, Hi -idge-sl net 

Adams Samuel, twaddlers' ironinonger, Iliishull-blroct 
Adams Richard | tanner, Rusliall-street 
Allen Thomas, victualler, Ablewell-street 
Appleby Humphry, locksmith, Paddock Iain- 
Adams Thomas, buckle maker, Ablewell-streefc 
Allen Cornelius, brazier, Ablev* ell-street 
Adams Thomas, brandy merchant, King-slicet 
Alsop Thomas, woolcomber and earthen wurchou ,e, Ptal- 

*treet 



150 

Adams John, factor and buckle-maker, Birmingham-street 

Adams and Bagley, factors, St. George' s-street 

Arnold John, bricklayer, Bloxwich 

Ansell John, shoe-maker. Short Heath 

Arblaster Edwatd, tanner, Clayhanger 

Allen Edward, victualler, ty^tr, Birehills 

Acton Richard, plater, Lime-pit Bank 

Arm Thomas, bitt-maker, Little Bloxwich 



B. 



Barber Benjamin, draper, High-street 

Baylis Thomas, chair-maker, George-street 

Barratt John, bridle-bitt maker, George-street 

Brace Henry, bridle-cutter, Bridge-street 

Barber Samuel, saddlers' ironmonger, Bridge-street 

Barber Henry, brass coach founder, Adams's-row 

Butler Joseph, taylor, Digbeth 

Bakewell Ann, ladies' academy, Digbeth 

Bowrin Joseph, shoe-maker, Park-street 

Barber Stephen, Park-street 

Brindley Samuel, shoe-maker, Park-street 

Bates Thomas, plater, Marsh lane 

Badger and Newman, saddlers' ironmongers, Park-street 

Badgerand James, factors, Park-street 

Busst John, bridle-bitt maker, Badger's yard, Park-street 

Bart ram Joseph, taylor, Badger's yard, Park-street 

Bache Thomas, schoolmaster, Bridge-street 

Brodhurst Benjamin, charity schoolmaster, Bridge-street 

Bloxwich Stephen, ironmonger, Digbeth 

Baylies Misses, stamp-office, square 

Barber and Son, curriers, Bridge-street 

Barber Vaughan John, Rushall-street 

Bowen Thomas Rev. gentlemen's boarding school, Rush- 
all-street 

Bowden William, Rushall-street 

Brown Thomas, bone brush turner, Rushall-street 

Brookes John, wire warehouse, Rushall-street 

Bibby Elizabeth, huckster, Rushall-street 

Barker Joseph, wheelright, Rushall-street. — Timber-yard 
in Bridge-street 

Bentley William, book-keeper, Rushall-street 



151 

Brown John, saddle-tree maker, Ablewell-stieet 

Burbidge Thomas, (2,101 er, WAi w til-street 

Brookes William and Thomas, baddlers' ironmongers, 
Ablewell-*trejet 

Bradley Thomas, carpenter, Ablewell-street 

Bellamy Sarah, pipe-maker, Ablew* il-street 

Betteridge Philip, watch-maker, R us) all-street 

Bentley Joseph, natter, hosier, and shoe warehouse, Market 
House 

Barber Thomas, hair-dp 's«er, Peal-street 

Bramidge John, bakev, Peal-street 

Blak>-niore James, bridle and harness tongue maker, Cox's 
Court 

Brodhurst and Greatrex, platers, Hall lane 

Birch Samuel, buckle-maker, Hall lane 

Bruinmall Hugh, pump-maker, Dudley-street 

Butler Charles, victualler, and Birmingham carrier, sets 
out from the Bim Pig, New-street, Walsall, Tuesday, 
Thursday, and Saturday mornings, to the Lyttelton's 
Anns, Snow-hill, Birmingham, and returns at seven 
o'clock in the evening of the same days 

Butler John, bridle-bitt and snaffle maker, New-street 

Brown Joseph, spur-maker, New-street 

Bedson Catharine, milliner, Church-street 

Barnet Samuel, curb and roller buckle maker, Church- 
street 

Bullock Mary, huckster, Church-street 

Bagnall William, plater, King-street 

Brecknell Thomas, taylor, King-street 

Bown Francis, sput-iowel maker, Hill-street 

Brookes James, snuffer-maker, Hill-street 

Beadle James, draper, High-street 

Bagnall Joseph, saddlers' ironmonger and patent bridle- 
bitt maker, Pavk-street 

Bond James, stirrup-maker, Bloxwich 

Brookes Humphrey, coach-hilt maker, Bloxwich 

Bradburn George, victualler, Bloxwich 

liirch Samuel, suaffle and bradoon maker, Bloxwich 

Brookes William, co:ich-bitt, maker, Bloxwich 

Beech Charles, victualler and locksmith, Short-street 

Beech Samuel, miller and maltster, Bloxwich 

Beech Joseph, locksmith, Little Bloxwich 

Beech William, locksmith, Little Bloxwich 

Bickley William, victualler, King's Arms, Little Bloxwich 



1.53 

Bullock John, locksmith, Little Bloxwich 
Bradley and Co. iron founders, Gorscote 
Barker Samuel, victualler, Trooper, Harden 
Butler Samuel, dog-chain maker, Stafford-street 
Banks John, locksmith, Little Bloxwich 
Birch Henry, roller buckle maker, Birchills 
Bird Moses, patent locksmith, Stafford-street 
Busst Mrs. victualler, Birchills 
Bullin John, tanner, Lime-pit Bank 
Brown John, dog chain maker, Lime-pit Bank 
Bolton Roger, farmer, Birmingham Road 
Barber Mrs. Birmingham Road 

BiddleWiiliam, saddle-tree and curry-comb maker, New- 
street 
Beebee John, plater, New-street, Field Gate 
Bradbury Richard, castor, New-street, Windmill 
Bramall Robert, gardener, Little London 
Butler Thomas, dog chain maker, Caldmore 
Burton William, farmer, Parks 
Baker James, tinned pelham maker, Bloxwich 
Blakenell , Bloxwich 



c. 



Cotterell John, spring stirrup maker, Walsall 

Cokley Robert, letter carrier, Paradise Court, High* 

street 
Colboum Walter, cabinet locksmith, Park-street 
Clarke Charles, bridle bitt maker, Marsh lane 
Cotterell Joseph, draper, High-street 
Cox Hill, grocer and druggist, High-street 
Cocking John, stirrup-maker,Jj oster's Yard, Rushall-street 
Clinton Charles, snaffle maker, Rushall-street 
Craddock Benjamin, tin snaffle and mouthing bitt maker, 

Rushall-stieet 
Clarke John, tin snaffle manufacturer, Tonks's-court, 

Rushall-street 
Curtis Joseph, book-keeper, Rushall-street 
Collier William, roller buckle maker, Rushall-street 
Cook Charles, taylor, Rushall-street 



153 

Cook Mrs. straw bonnet m:iker, Ablewell-street 

Cox Beley, book-keeper, Ablew»'ll-street 

Carver John, saddler, collar, and whip thong manufactur- 
er, Rushall-strtet 

Cox John, shoe-maker, Ditch 

Clements William, cooper, Rushall-street 

Cotterell Thomas, schoolmaster, Rushall-street 

Cooper Jane, victualler, Rushall-street 

Chillingworth Thomas, victualler, Peal-street 

Cooper John, fishmonger, Dudley-street 

Covvell John, stirrup-maker, Dudley-street 

Cowleys Joseph and Thomas, coach brass founders, platers, 
and buckle manufacturers, Dudley-street 

Clinton Robert, Huckster, Dudley-street 

Cotterell Thomas, buckle-maker, Halt lane 

Carter Thomas, carpenter, Dudley-street 

Cowley Thomas, Dudley-street 

Carless , victualler, Dudley-street 

Carless Joseph, plater, Dudley-street 

Chamberlain Mrs. midwife, New-street 

Cooper Thomas, Birmingham Road 

Cross Thomas, spur rowel maker, Birmingham-street 

Clarkson William, baker, King-street 

Cork Thomas, farmer, Ablewell-street 

Cotterell Richard, victualler, George-street 

Clarkson Mountfort, victualler, Park-street 

Creig William, plater, Broadstone 

Collins V\ illiam, shoe-maker, Bloxwich 

Carrington George, best steel bitt maker, Bloxwich 

Cooper Joseph, bitt-maker, Bloxwich 

Colbourn William, victualler, Bull's Head Inn, Bloxwich 

Chapman Joseph, tinned bitt maker, Harden 

Cockayne Humphrey, snaffle-maker, Blakenell Heath 

Clarke John, bitt-maker, Birchills 

Curtis Joseph, land surveyor, Bank-street 

Crump Richard, auctioneer, Bank-street 

Cooper Joseph, victualler, Wheat Sheaf, Birmingham-street 

Cooper Henry, curb-maker, Town's End 

Cowley William, Bloxwich 

Cater Henry, victualler, Vauxhall 

Cooper Thomas, farmer, Bescote 

Challenor John, portmantua lock maker, Pleck 

Colston — — > saddle-tree maker, Stafford-sti eet 



154 



D. 



Dudley Sarah, glass warehouse, High-street 

Devey Thomas, bridle bitt maker, George-street 

Dickenson Thomas, butcher, Digbeth 

Darwall Charles H, attorney, Bridge-street 

Davis John, baker, Ablewell-street 

Duignan John, schoolmaster, Church-street 

Dixon Samuel, painter, Birmingham-street 

Devey Edward and Henry, coach bitt makers, Bloxwich 

Dace Charles, victualler, Bloxwich 

Dace Robert, tinned bitt maker, Bloxwich 

Day Joseph, Locksmith and buckle presser, Stafford-street 

Dixon Thomas^ book-keeper, Windmill 

E. 

Eld John, draper, High-street 

EylandJohn,spoon>buckle,chape and lock-maker, George- 
street 
Edwards Thomas, blacksmith, Park-street 
Emery William, taylor, High-street 
Elwell William, sadlers' ironmonger, Bridge-street 
Eyland Moses, spectacle manufacturer, Rushall-street 
Eglington and Sons, stone masons, Bank-street 
Elton\john, victualler, New-street 
Evans William, supervisor, Church-street 
Evans Junes, army and steel spur- maker, Hill-street 
Eagles W 7 id. victualler, Hill-street 
Elwell Edward, surgeon, High-street 
Elwell Samuel, iron warehouse, Park-street 
Elwell Mary, Priory, Park-street 
Evans David, awl blade-maker, Short Heath 
Edge Mark, awl blade-maker, Wallington Heath 
Emery John, polished snaffle-maker, Blakenell Heath 

Elsmore , tell gatekeeper, Stafford-street 

Edge Samuel, awl blade-maker, Bloxwich 

F. 

Freeth John, grocer and chandler, High-street 
Forster Charles and Son, Bankers, High-street 



155 

Forster Charles, esq. magistrate, High-street 

Fox George, victualler, Park-stieet 

Forster George, currier, Park-street 

Forster and Ficlield, coal dealers, Wharf, Park-atreet 

Fletcher Richard, George Hotel Posting House, Traveller'* 

Inn and Coach Office, Digbeth 
Foster William, Butcher, Rushall-street 
Fletcher Samuel, Bridge-street 
Fletcher and Sharratt, merchants, saddlers' ironmongers, 

warehouse, Bridge-street, late in George-street 
Fletcher William, book keeper, Rushall-street 
Fallows John, shoe-maker, Rushall-street 
Franklin William, currier, Ablewell-street 
Franklin Richard, shoe-maker, Ablewell-street 
Fletcher Samuel, saddlers' ironmonger, Dudley-street 
Fenton Thomas, plater, New-street 
Fletcher Samuel, farmer, Harden 
Farmer Thomas, plater, Stafford-6treet 
Faulkner Clement, miller, Birchills 
Foster Aaron, farmer, Parks 

Fletcher Stephen, polished steel bit-maker, Bloxwich 
Fowler Thomas, grocer and ironmonger, Townsend 



G. 






Greatrex Sarah and Son, platers, •George-street 
Gent Joseph, Watch-maker, High-street 
Green William, coach brass founder and plater, Ablewell- 
street 
Groom John, horse-breaker, Digbeth 
Green William, victualler, Hall >Lane 
Glover James, hinge-maker, New-street 
Gould John, spur-maker, New-street 
Grove T I torn as, Rev. Birmingham road 
Goodwin Amos, bit-maker, Broadstone 
Green Richard, bit-maker, Bloxwich 
Green Thomas, bit-maker, Bloxwich 
Goodwin Moses, steel bit-maker, Bloxwich 
Garner William, joiner, Bloxwich 
Goodwin James, bricklayer, Bloxwich 
.Green John, weaver, Short Heath 



156 

Griffin John, farmer, Short Heath 

Gough David, victualler, Wolverhampton road 

Groves John, brush-maker, Stafford-street 

Groves Mrs. Sarah, sett-maker, Birchills 

Green Edward, best polished steel bit-maker, Birchills 

Goodwin Thomas, best polished stirrup-maker, Birchills 

Griffin Joseph, lime master, Hollshill Lane 

Gee James, agent to the Worcester F ire-Office, and also 
landlord s agent for the collection of rents, Bank- 
street 

Green Joseph, stock and hat buckle-maker, New-street 

Groves James, maltster, Windmill 

Green Richard, Windmill 

Giles Joseph, stirrup-mnker, Windmill 

Groves John, Stafford-street 

Green John, schoolmaster, Chapel, Bloxwich 

Guest Samuel, buckle-maker, New-street 

Green Elizabeth, plater, Windmill-street 

Giles William, stirrup-maker, Windmill-street 



H. 



Hill Ann, grocer, currier and wire warehouse, High-street 
Hullsworth Edward, rope-maker, flax dresser, and twine 

spinner, GeorgerStreet 
Horton Thomas, barber, High-street 
Haskew Barnard, joiner and carpenter, High-street 
Hichel William, draper and hosier, Digbeth 
Holmes Joseph, barber, Park-street 
Highway Isaac, baker, Park-street 
Hume Thomas, coaqh harness plater, Marsh Lane 
Hall Charles, brush-maker, Park-street 
Harrison James, stirrup-maker. Idle Alley, Park-street 
Hawkins Samuel, grocer and flour dealer, Park-§treet 
Heeley Henrietta, Post Office, Digbeth 
Hobbins James, H. saddlers' ironmonger, Digbeth 
Hobbins Elizabeth, pawnbroker, Digbeth 
Hathaway Edward, grocer and chandler, High-street 
Haddon John, shoe-maker, Rushall-street 
Harris John, s>t;iy-rpaker, Rushall-street 
Holman Thomas *add|e-tree-maker, Rushall-street 



157 

Hinlon Elizabeth, mantua-maker, Bridge-street 

Holloway William, skinner, Rushall-street 

Haidiman Mm. victualler, Uushall-street 

I laden Joseph, tanner, Rushall-street 

lleeley John, attorney, Ablewell-street 

Uacknev John, attorney's writer, Rqshall-street 

Hawley' William, blacksmith, Rushall-street Shop, Bridge* 
street 

Handy Sarah, huckster, Uushall-street 

Hill William, shoe-maker, Uuslmll-sl ;reet 

Hodgkins Richard, huckster, Peal-street 

Highway Williarn, confectioner, Peal-street 

HowlettJphn, shoe-maker, Peal-street 

Hildick Mary, grocer and draper, Peal-street 

Holt Oliver, chimney-sweeper, Dudley-street 

Ileynes William, coach and bridle bit-maker, bottom of 
Cox's Court 

Heath James, huckster, Hall lane 

Hicken Mary, huckster, New-street 

Hateley Joseph, polished curb-maker, New-street 

Halfpenny John, grocer and druggist, New-street 

Hart William, baker, New-street 

Hall Thomas, currier, New-street 

Hulse Stephen, tutania and pewter spoon-maker, New- 
street 

Howell Joseph, factor, Birmingham-street 

Hart William, buckle and cabinet key-maker, Birming- 
ham road 

Harrison Lester, bridle bit-maker, Birmingham road 

Huhhall Stephen, whip thong-maker, King-street 

Hughes and Newton, saddlers' ironmongers, Park-street, 
inventors and manufacturers of new driving spiing 
hooks 

Hicken Joseph, plater, Rnshall-street 

Heath William, plater, Broadstone 

Heath Thomas, bit-maker, Broadstone 

Horton Walter, farmer, Bloxwich 

Harrison William, farmer, Bloxwich 

Hardrnan James, coach bit maker, Bloxwich 

Harrison Joseph, farmer, Little Bloxwich 

.Hawkins Thomas, farmer, Little Bloxwich 

Hough William, stirrup-maker, Little Bloxwich 

Hildick Fratlpis, farmer, Colepool 

Hildick Robert, edge tool maker, Colepool 



158 



Hope James, best polished steel bit and snaffle maker, 

Harden 
Harris William, polished stirrup maker, Blakenell Heath 
Hawkins Elias, farmer, Shaver's End 
Hawkins John, farmer, Shel field 
Harrison John, fanner, Shelfield 
Harrison Join;, farmer, Shelfield 
Harrison Thomas,' oatmealman, Shelfield 
Hodgkius, John, victualler, Boathouse, Catshill 
Harrison John, farmer, Walsall Wood 
Holmes Joseph, black chain maker, Walsall Wood 
Hands Joseph, spring stirrup maker, Wolverhampton road 
Hands Benjamin, spring stirrup maker, Town's End 
Holden Thomas, coach harness maker, Town's End 
liardman Joseph, sett-maker Birchills 
Hathaway Nathaniel,, victualler, Three Crowns, near BaVr 

Beacon 
Holder John, Black Boy, Field Gate 
Higg ins Thomas, sheriff's officer, Windmill 
Harvey Samuel, plater, Windm'II 
Huskinson William, dog chain maker, Doveridge 
Harvey Matthew, plater, Windmill 
liardman James, coach bit maker, Bloxwich 



J. 



James and Payton, factors, High-street, Digbeth 

Jenns Joseph, coach iron founder, coach furniture, and 
harness plater, Hall lane 

Jarvis Lucy, Hour wa.t-house, Park-street 

Jewsbury Richard, higgler, Park-street 

James Richard, factor, Park-stie«-t 

Jackson Richard, hosier and jersey comber, Digbeth 

Johnson Joseph, collar-maker, Rushali-stieet 

Jennings John, shoe-maker, llushalt-street 

James Thomas, spoon, lock, hinge and buckle maker, 
Ablewell-stieet 

Jackson Sarah, victualler, Ablewell-street 

Jennings Edward, bridle bit and snaffle maker, Peal- 
street 

Jackson Edward W. brandy merchant, New-street 



159 

James Charles, victualler and patten ring' manufacturer, 

opposite Free School 
Jennings John, common polished, bit maker, Bloxvricli 
Jackson William, maltster, Colcpool 
Joy Thomas* spring stinup maker, Birehills 
Jesson Richard, attorney, Spring Field 
James Charles, victualler, Church-street 
Jones Edward, victualler, Windmill 
Jones Whit more, miller, New Mills 
Jones Edward, victualler and plater, Windmill-? tr' ' . 
Jobhit William, plater, Whitehall 
James and Stubbs, Hirchills Colliery 



K 



Knight Richard, plater, Whitehall 

Kendall Henry, gardener, Rushall-strcet 

KendaU Samuel, blacksmith, Bloxwh ii 

Kates Thomas, common bit maker, Bloxwich 

Keeling James, farmer, Sheliield 

Keyte William, pump-maker, Wolverhampton road 

Kendrick Phineas, bridle cutter and engraver, Windturl 



L. 



Lea James, draper, High-street 

Lucas Henry, grocer, High-street 

Langley William', maltster, Rushall-street 

Lycetts Miss, Park-street 

Lycett Henry, victualler, Park-street 

Lucas James, victualler, Digb>.t!i 

Lowe Hannah, cheese dealer, Rushall-street 

London Thomas, saddler and harness maker, Ruslndl- 

street 
Leicester Edward, butcher, Ruslndl-street 
Littler Joseph, shoe-maker, Birch's yard, Rush alb street 
Lock James, hatter, Rushall-strett 

Longmore Stephen, plumber and glazier, Du<!Iey-?tre«t 
Lee Piicliaid, victualler, Church-street 



160 

Long-more John, sexton, Hill-street 

Lea John, victualler, Rushall-street 

Lander Hit-hard, bradoon-maker, Bloxwirh 

Lawrence William, ladies' polished stirrup maker, Si.ort 

Heath 
Lawrence Thomas, locksmith, Short Heath 
Lander William, common bit maker, M irsh lane. 
Lowe Richard, stirrup-maker, Windmill 
Lowe Thomas, blacksmith, Pleck 
Leak Thomas, plater, Doveridge 



M. 

Mount fort Benjamin, grocer, High-street 

Mills Richard, shoe warehouse and hosier, High-9tre*-t 

Mace John, hair-dresser» George-street 

Middlemore Robert, victualler, Digbeth 

Meeson Thomas, baker, Park-street 

Meeson Thomas, taylor, Park-street 

Marklevv Isaac, attorney, Park-street 

Marlow Henry, iron warehouse, Park-street 

Mullinder William, grocer and druggist, Digbeth 

Mills William, martingale hook maker, Square 

Matthews Mary, flax dresser, rope maker and twine spinner, 
High-street 

Mountfort Thomas, confectioner, High-street 

Milward Frederick, printer and stationer, High-street 

Meeson Samuel, jobbing smith, Rushall-street 

Mold William, factor, Rushall-street 

Meek Thomas, shoe-maker, Rushall-street 

Mallaber William, victualler, Rushall-street. 

Male Thomas, victualler and brush-maker, Rushall-street 

Middleton Joseph, victualler, Royal Oak, Rushall-street 

Mold Thomas, carpenter, Ablewell-street 

Matthews William, pawnbroker, Rushall-street ' 

Mason William, town cryer, Little Hill 

Mills John, victualler, Dudley-street • 

Marshall and Weatherhead, factors and saddlers' iron- 
mongers, Dudley-street 

Martin Mary, Dudley-stieet 

Marsh Edward, tmafHe and mouthing bitt maker, New- 
street 



161 

Middieton IViscilla, huckster and baker* New-street 

.Mayo Thomas, victualler, New-street 

Meeson Bridget, butcher, New-street 

Mason William, gardener, Crooked Alley 

Mason Samuel, deputy constable for the parish of Walsall, 

and jail keeper, opposite the Wheat Sheaf, Birmingham 

Road 
Marlow John, leather dealer, Bank-street 
Mason Thomas, school and drawing master, and delineator 

of the view .of Walsall prefixed to this history 
Mason Mrs. ladies' academy, New-street 

Morris , Hall lane 

Mayo John, victualler, Bloxwich 

Marshall Thomas, blacksmith, Bloxwich 

Moss John, victualler and maltster, Bloxwich 

Moss James, butcher, Short Heath 

Marshall Thomas, snaffle-maker, Short Heath 

Mason Joseph, common polished snaffle maker, Marsh Lane 

Mason Samuel, book-keeper, Town's End 

Mayo Thomas, plater, (journeyman,) Wolverhampton Road 

Mayo Thomas, platef, Stafford- street 

Marlow Daniel, plater, Windmill 

Marlow Joseph, factor, Windmill 

Marlow Benjamin, bitt-maker, Windmill 

Moore Samuel, grocer, Bloxwich 

Mason Joseph, brass coach harness maker, New-street 

Mason Thomas, buckle maker, Caldmoor 

N. 



Newton Thomas, buckle stamper, Adams's Row 

Nickols Jeremy, spring, and best stirrup, curricle bar and 

handle manufacturer, Mash lane 
Needham Thomas, victualler and taylor, Digbeth 
Nicholls William, factor, Rushall-street 
Nock Edward, joiner and cabinet maker, Rushall-street 
Nickols Setb, bridle-bitt maker, Ablewell-street 
Nock Elizabeth, broker, Kushall-street 
Nevill William, builder, Dudley-street 
Nicholls John, grazier, New-street 
Nayler Matthew, baker, Rushall-street 

Y 



162 

Nicholls Joseph, awl-blade maker, Short Heath 
Newton Thomas, factor, Wolverhampton Road 
ISickliu William, plater, Town's End 
Norris John, common snaffle maker, Birehills 
Nock Thomas, common snaffle maker, Brrclrills 



o. 

O'Neal Robert, victualler, and peruke maker, Rushall- 
street 

Osborne John, polished curb maker, Wood's-court, New- 
street 

Osborne John, currier, Hill-street 

Oerton Thomas, gentlemen's academy, Doveridge 

P. 

Pearce Thomas, Hill-street, agent to the Birmingham Fire 
and Life Insurance, and Annuity Officer 

Pratt Philip, The Rev. vicarage 

Promt Joseph, butcher, High-street 

Perks Samuel, iron founder and factor, Adams's Row 

Parker Thomas, gardener, Pig lane, Park-street 

Payton James, factor, Park-street 

Pool Andrew* patent steel spring and plain stirrup manu- 
facturer, Digbeth 

Parker Edward, gardener, Digbeth 

Pemberton Thomas, butcher, High-street 

Plant Elizabeth, huckster, Rushall-street 

Pitman James, fell monger, Park-street 

Padgett Thomas, victualler, Rushall-street 

Parker Thomas, victualler, Rushall-street 

Parnell John, surgeon, Ablewell-street 

Penn James, wine and brandy merchant, Rushall-street 

Pemberton Joseph, butcher, Rushall-street 

Promt Humphrey, butcher, High-street 

Pitt Thomas, surgeon, Peal-street 

Parker Joseph, locksmith, New-street 

Potts John, breeches-maker, Birmingham Road 

Parker William, file maker and plater, Ablewell-street 

Pratt William, wine and brandy merchant, High-street 



163 

Pratt , millet, Steam Engine, erected for grinding 

corn, 1812; situate at the first navigation bridge on the 
road from Walsall to Bloxwich 

Pitt Thomas, awl blade maker, Bloxwich 

Parker Thomas, butcher, Bloxwich 

Partridge Thomas, awl blade maker, Short Heath 

Persehouse John, farmer, Short Heath 

Perry , tinned stirrup maker, Short Heath 

Proud Thomas, snaffle-maker, Blakenell Heath 

Palmer William, curb-maker, Town's End 

Perks and Newton, factors, Stafford-street 

Pitt Henry, bitt-maker, Birchills 

Porter William, victualler and spur-buckle maker, Tul- 
brook Road, or Little London. — Horse and gig to hire 

Price Thomas, coal and iron master, Bescott 

Padgett Joseph, farmer, Pleck 

Partridge John, shoe-maker, Bloxwich 

Peat Mrs. buckle-maker, Doveridge 



Quintou Henry, farmer, Yell Fields Hall 

R. 

Reynolds Archibald, shoe-maker, High-street 

Rock Thomas, locksmith, George-street 

Rogers William, baker, Digbeth 

Russell Mary, curb-maker, Park-street 

Rooker John, cooper, High-street 

Rutter Richard, grocer and druggist, High-street 

Reynolds Joseph, chain and dog chain manufacturer, Foa- 

ter's-court, Rushall-street 
Reynolds James, brush-maker, Rushall-street 
Reynolds William, grocer, Rushall-street 
Reynolds and Co. bone and ivory brush manufacturers, 

turners and toy makers, Rushall-street 
Roberts Thomas, carpenter, Rushall-street 
Roper William, peruke-maker, Rushall-street 



164 

Russell Jacob, curl), military over-all c^ain, dog couple ami 
greyhound starters maker, Ablewell-street 

Rooker Joseph, cooper, Rushall-street 

Rostill Charlts, shoe-maker, Peal-street 

Rogers James, butcher, Dudley-strtet 

Ross Thomas, awl blade maker, [Jloxwich 

Ray John, higgler, Short fl'^ath 

Roberts John, tinned bitt maker, Blakenell Ucath 

Robinson J. sloe-inaker, Blakenell Heath 

Robathan George, best polished snaffle dud bradoon maker, 
Blakenell Heath 

Riley Joseph, farmer, Pepper Alley 

Rowley Thomas, factor, Stafford-street 

Ross Edward, plater, Birchills 

Reynolds Charles, New-street, field Gate 

Rogers John, gent. Windmill 

Rock Joseph, factor, Windmill 

Rock Benjamin, farmer, Caldmoor 

Ross Patrick, awl blade maker, Whitehall 



s, 



Slaney James, book-keeper, Freeth's Yard 

Spurrier Joseph, attorney, George-street; a master in 

Chancery 
Stanley Richard, coach and gig bridle bit); maker, Adams'* 

Row 
Shaw Thomas, baker, Digbeth 
Stubbs and Co. bankers, Digbeth 
Stubbs John, saddlers' ironmonger, Digbeth 
Smith William, fishmonger, Digbeth 
Sheldon John, victualler, Park-street 
Smith Joseph, victualler. Park-street 
Smith John, victualler, Park-street 
Stanle> Edward, coach bitt maker, Park-street 
Stanley Thomas, plater, Park-street 
Sharratt Samuel, Pa. k-street 
Sleigh William, hat-maker, Digbeth 
Smallwood Joseph, shoe and ladies' Devonshire stirrup 

maker, Digbeth 



165 

Smith Mary, <-tay-makcr, Digbcth 

Shorter* William, grocer, High-street 

Sedgwick Henry, sett maker, Wide Yard, Rushall-street 

Spurrier Thomas, gent. Bridge-street 

Smith Joseph, victualler, Rushall-street 

Stavill John, excise oflfice, Rushall-street 

Sanders William, bricklayr, Kushall-street 

Smith Thomas, currier, Rushall-street 

Shutt William, maltster, Abiewell-street 

Scott Mrs. Mary, wine inercliant, Ablewell-street 

Smallwood Joseph, ladies' stirrup maker, Ablewell-street 

Slubhs Joseph, attonuy, (town clerk,) Rushall-street 

Smith Simon, taylor, Rushall-street 

Smith John, stocking weaver, Rushall-street 

Stanton John, butcher, Rushall-street 

Shevjn Matthew, woolcomber, Little Hill 

Smith \\ dliani, huckster, Dudley-Street 

Stone Joseph, umbrella and parasol maker, Dudley-street 

Stringer William, spring saddle har and martingale hook 

maker, Old Meeting yard, Dudley-street 
Stanton William, spur buckle maker, Dudley-street 

Stoddard -, taylor, New-street 

Smith Thomas, sett roller buckle maker, New-street 
Smith John, clerk at St. Matthew's Church, Church-street, 

where are kept the keys of the engine 
Sansome John, victualler, Church-street 
Stevens Samuel, stay-maker, Gorton's Yard 
Sheldon Ann, mautua-maker, Gorton's Yard 
Smith James, brass harness and buckle maker in general, 

Birmingham-street 
Spurrier and Wootton, saddlers' ironmongers, King-street 
Stokes Joseph, plater, Bloxwich 
Smith William, bit-maker, Bloxwich 
Stanley I, B. farmer, Bloxwich 
Somerlield Matthew, ironmonger, Bloxwich. 
Stokes John, farmer, Bloxwich 
Stokes William, Bloxwich, Walsall, and Birmingham car- 

ri'.r, Bloxwich 
Stokes Joseph, polished coach bit maker, Bloxwich 
Stokes John, grocer, Bloxwich 
Stanley Edward, farmer, Bloxwich 
Smith Samuel, farmer, Bloxwich 
Somerfield John, awl-blade maker, Bloxwich 
Stokes Thomas, couch bit maker, Bloxwich 



166 

Stanley John, common polished bradoon maker, Sho>t 

Heath 
Somerfield Titus, awl-blade maker, Short Heath 
Sargeant Joseph, set-maker, Short Heath 
Stokes William, tinned stirrup maker, Short Heath 
Sargeant Edward, set-maker, Short Heath 
Sarg» ant John, set-miiker, Short Heath 
Shenton John, farmer, Gorscote 
Sheldon Thomas, bit-maker, Blakenell Heath 
Stokes John, victualler, Horse and Jockey, Walsall Wood 
Stokes Charles, coach bit maker, Stafford-street 
Stringer Thomas, spring saddle-bar maker, Stafford-street 
Stanley William, bit-maker, Stafford-street 
Sillitoe Aaron, packing box maker, Lime Pit Bank 
Scholey Christopher, farmer, Gillot de greaves 
Slater John, farmer, Birmingham road 
Stringer Thomas, spring bar maker, Fubbrook road 
Spink Robert, farmer, Pleck 
Small Mrs. victualler, Pleck 
Somerfield Jacob, asvl-blade and collar makers' needles, 

&c. manufacturer, Bloxwich 
Somerfield Thomas, grocer, &c. Bloxwich 



T. 



TayTor John, plumber, glazier, and painter, High-street 

Taylor Thomas, shoe-maker, Digbeth 

Thursfan John, saddler, Digbeth 

Thomas John, baker, Digbeth 

Taylor Joseph, saddlers' ironmonger, Park-street 

Thomhill Samuel, victualler, Park-street 

Taylor Abraham, tong-maker, Square 

Tomlinson William, Rushall-street 

Thompson Joseph, blacksmith, Rushall-street 

Tonks Samuel, victualler, Rushall-street 

Thacker James, gardener and seedsman, Rushall-street 

Thacker William, plater, Rushall-street 

Taylor Joseph, taylor, Rushall-street 

Titley William, draper, Rushall-street 

Taylor John, broker, Peal-street 

Tomlinson Thomas, victualler, Dudley-street 



167 

Thompson John, barber, Dudley-street 
Thompson John, huckster, church-street 
Timbrell John, victualler and maltster, Church-street 
Timbrell Charles, iron warehouse, Church-street 
Turnor Thomas, farmer, Bloxwich 
Thomas John, gardener, Bloxwich 
Townsend Edward, rope-maker, Bloxwich 
Taylor Thomas, best polished steel bit maker, Short Heath 
Taylor Thomas, locksmith 

Taylor Richard, snaffle-maker, Wallington Heath 
Taylor Thomas, bit-maker, Wallington Heath 
Taylor William, butcher, Shelfield 
Turnor Robert, victualler, Four Crosses, Shelfield 
Tuckley Joseph, locksmith, Birchill* 
Turnor William, farmer, Birchills 
Taylor Daniel, curb-maker, Birchills 
Tudman John, farmer, Wood End 

Timmins Glazier, plumber, glazier, and painter, New- 
street 
Thomas William, plater, Windmill 



V. 



Unitt Wid. victualler, Digbeth 
Unitt Joseph, builder, Park-street 
Unitt Richard, bridle tong maker, Square 
Unitt James, grocer, druggist, and chandler, Rushatl- 
street 



V. 



Vickers John, Castle Inn, High-street 
Valentine and Throsby, stationers, High-street 



w. 

Wilcox Susan, brazier, tinman, and d.-aler in rags, High- 
street 



l(iS 

Worrad Joseph, fishmonger, High-street 

White William, clock ami watch maker, High-street 

Wilkinson William, black buckle and chape maker in 

general j Pig hme 
Whitehouse Joseph, victualler, Park-street 
Windle Charles, factor, Park-street 
Windle Charles, esq. magistrate* Park-street 
Wilson Thomas, victualler, Park-street 
Whitney Robert, carpenter, Park-street 
Whitehouse Joseph, jun. victualler, Park-street 
Wilson Samuel, attorney, Park-street 
Woodford Mrs. ladies' school, Bridge-street 
Windsor William, patten tie and bridle cutter, Digbe^b 
Webster John, rim lock maker, Dog Yard, Digbeth 
Wakeman James, victualler, High-street 
Wilson Mary, basket-maker, High-street 
Westley Charles, loop and slide manufacturer for braces 

and gaiters, Wide Yard, RushalUstreet 
Wood John, factor, Bridge-street 
Wells Thomas, caster, Rushall-street 
Wilson George, bone turner, Rushall-street 
Williams John, polished curb, and martingale ring maker, 

Oatshill lane, Rushall-street 
Wood William, victualler an'd maltster, Ablewell-street 
Wright Joseph, victualler, Ablewell-street 
Woollat Edward, victualler, Excise Office, Rushall-street 
Woollat Joseph, surgeon, Rushall-street 
Webster Benjamin, tin curb and chain maker, Old Meeting 

Yard 
Weatherhead Thomas, Dudley-Street 
Weaver Francis, surgeon, Dudley-street 
Wilcox Thomas, plater, New-street 
Wiggiu Benjamin, victualler, bridle cutter, and coach 

harness maker, Church-street 
Westley John, victualler, King-strtet 

Womsley Rev. , Bridge-street 

Woolman .-.-., organist, High-street 
Whateley Clement Johi., esq. Birchids Hall 
Welch William, grocer, &c. Bloxwich 
Wootton James, tinned bit maker, Bloxwich 
Wood John, awl-blade maker Shoit Heath 
White Solomon, taylor, Short Heath 
AValker James, shoe-maker, Short Heath 



XG9 

Wilkes Joseph, locksmith, Short Heath 

"Wilkes John, locksmith, Short Heath 

Wood Thomas, stirrup-maker, Short Heath ^ 

Walker John, higgler, Wallington Heath 

Wood David, awl-blade maker, Blakenell Heath 

Wootton I. tinned sharps and pelhams maker, Blakenell 

Heath 
Wood Samuel, victualler, Fox, also collector of the King's 

taxes for the Foreign of Walsall 
WUitehouse John, curlvmaker, Birchills 
Wright Edward, bridle cutter and musical instrument 

seller, Lime Pit Bank 
Whitehall Thomas, saddle-bar maker, Lime Pit Bank 
Wood Samuel, rnaltster, Lime Pit Bank 
Wood Samuel, jun. maltster and brick maker, Wood End 

road 
Wainright Henry, farmer, Wood End road 
Watson Mrs. Birmingham road 
Wiggin Joseph, farmer, Windmill-street 
Worsey Charles, fanner, Windmill 
Webster John, dog chain maker, Fulbrook road 
Webster George, dog chain maker, Fulbrook road 
Wilcox John, Doveridge, Fulbrook road 
Wilcox Richard, polished snaffle and bra,doon maker, 

Doveridge 
Worrallo Joseph, ^ridle buckle plater, Doveridge 
Wilkes Samuel, cabinet locksmith, &c. Short Heath, 

Bloxwich 
Walker Mrs. farmer, Little Bloxwich 
Williams Joseph, polished snaffle maker, Broadstone 



Y. 

Yates Francis, grocer and druggist, High-street 
Yates Thomas, awl-blade maker, Bloxwich 
Yates Richard, awl-blade maker, Harden 
Yates Joseph, tin stirrup maker, Walsall W 7 ood 
Yeomans Edward, buckle-maker, Caldmoor 






ALPHABETICAL LIST 

OF THE 

PRINCIPAL TRADES, $c. 

WITH THE 

jlSames of persons 

EXERCISING THEM RESPECTIVELY. 



Awl Blade Makers. 

Evan6 I)avid Somerfield John 

Edge Mark Somerfield Titus 

Edge Samuel Somerfield Jacob 

Nicholls Joseph Wood John 

Pitt Thomas Wood David 

Partridge Thomas Yates Thomas 

Ross Thomas Yates Richard 
Ross Patrick 

Buckle Makers. 

Adams John Guest Samuel 

Adams Thomas HartWm. 

Birch Samuel James Thomas 

Barnett Samuel, (roller) Mason Thomas 

Birch Henry, (roller) Peat Mrs. 

Barnett Samuel, (roller) Porter William 

Collier Wm. (roller) Stanton William 

Cowleys Jos. and Thos. Smith Thomas, (roller) 

Cotterell Thomas Smith James 

Eyland John Wilkinson Wm. 

Green Joseph Yeomaos Edward 



171 



Birch Samuel 
Lander Richard 
Robathan George 



Br ado on Makers. 

Stanley John 
Wilcox Richard 



Bridle Bitl Makers. 



Butler John 

Barratt John 

Busst John 

Bagnall Joseph, (patent) 

Clarke Charles 



Devey Thomas 
Heynes Wm. 
Harrison Lester 
Jennings Edward- 
Nickols Seth 



Bitt Makers. 



Arm Thomas 
Carrington George 
Cooper Joseph 
Chapman Joseph 
Clarke John 
Dace Robert 
Fletcher Stephen 
Goodwin Amos 
Green Richard 
Green Thomas 
Goodwin Moses 
Green Edward 
Heath Thomas 
Hope James 






Jennings John 
Kates Thomas 
Lander William 
Marsh Edward 
Marlow Benjamin 
Pitt Henry 
Roberts John 
Smith William 
Sheldon Thomas 
Stanley William, 
Taylor Thomas 
Taylor Thomas 
Wootton James 



Brown Thomas 
Reynolds and Co. 



Groves John 
Hall CbarUs 



Bone and Ivory Turners* 

Wilson George 



Brush Makers. 

Reynolds James. 



172 



Brass Coach founders. 

Barber Henry Green William 

Cow leys Jos. and Thos. 

Bridie Cutters. 

Brace Henry Wiggin Benjamin 

Windsor William Wright Edward 

Bridie and Harness Tongue Maker* 
Blakemore James 

Curb Makers* 

Barnet Samuel Russell Jacob 

Cooper Henry Taylor Daniel 

Hateley Joseph Williams John 

Osborne John Webster Benjamin 

Palmer William Whitehouse John 



Russell Mary 



Curriers. 



Barber and Son Hall Thomas 

Forstcr George Osborne John 

Franklin William Smith Thornad 
Hill Samuel 



Coach Bitt Makers. 









Brookes Humphrey Stanley Richard 

Brookes William Stanley Edward 

Devey Edward and Henry Stokes Thomas 

Heynes William Stokes Joseph 

Hard man James Stokes Charles 

Coach Harness Makers, 

Holden Thomas Smith James 

Mason Joseph Wiggin Benjamin 



Jeuns Joseph 



173 



Coach Iron Founder. 



Butler Samuel 
13 row n John 
Reynolds Joseph 



Dos C Jul in Makers, 

Webster John 
Webster George 



Factors. 






Adams John and Sons 

Adams John 

Adams and Bagley 

Badger and James 

Howell Joseph 

James and Payton 

James Richard 

Mold Willi;.m 

Marshall and Weatherhead 

Marlow Joseph 



Nicholls William 
/Newton Thomas 
Perks Samuel 
Payton James 
Perks and Newton 
Rowley Thomas 
Rock Joseph 
Windle Charleg 
Wood John 



Locksmiths. 



Appleby Humphrey 
Beech Charles 
Beech Joseph 
Beech William 
Bullock John 
Banks John 
Bird Moses, (patent) 
Colbourn Walter 
Day Joseph 



Lawrence Tboma9 
Parker Joseph 
Rock Thomas 
Taylor Thomas 
Tuck ley Joseph 
Wilkes Joseph 
Wilkes John 
Wilkes Samuel 



Platers, 



Aston Richard 
Bates Thoma3 
Brodhurst and Greatrex 



Bagnall William 

Beebee John 

Cowleys Jos. and Tlioi. 






BANKERS, 

With the Houses they draw upon in London. 

■ .rt=>t>tr>tvcg-.— 
Charles Forster and Co, — On Spooner and Co. 
Stubbs and Co. — On Spooner and Co. 



OF THE 

MAGISTRATES AND OTHER OFFICERS. 

James Adams, Esq. Mayor. 

N. G. Clarke, Esq. Brown's Green, Recorder. 

Charles Forster, Esq. Digbeth, Magistrate, and an Alderman 

of the Corporation. 
Charles Windle, Esq. Park-street, Magistrate, and ai> 

Alderman of the corporation. 
Samuel Wilson, Esq. Magistrate 
Joseph Stubbs, Esq, Town Clerk. 



Joseph Curtis, jnn. Bank-street, High Constable for the 
Hundred of OfHow, South. 



Thomas Higgins, Windmill, near Walsall, Sheriff'* Oifieer. 



Samuel Mason, Birmingham-street, Keeper of the Jail 
far the Borough and Foreign of Walsall. 



MASTERS IN CHANCERY. 

C also a commissioner to take afii- 

Mr. John Heeley,-^ davitsinKing's Bench, Common 

£ pleas, Court of Exchequer, &e. 

Charles H. Darwall, Mr. Isaac Marklew, 

Joseph Stubbs, Samuel Wilson. 



3n 0rcansement 

OF THE DIFFERENT 

MAILS, FROM THE POST-OFFICE, 

WALSALL. 

J3I3. 

MANCHESTER MAIL. 

EVERY morning at half-past ten o'clock; which takes 
allletters for Willenhull, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Stone, 
and Newc:is.tle; Cheshire, Lancashire, Scotland, Northum- 
berland, Durham, Cumberland, Westmoreland, Yorkshire, 
Carnarvonshire* Flintshire, Denbighshire and Shropshire. 

The same mail at twelve o'clock, which forwards letters 
to Peterborough and Thrapston, in Northamptonshire; 
Tompsford, Potton, and Biggleswade, In Bedfordshire; 
Wokingham, and Maidenhead in Berkshire; Alresford, 
Gosport, Basingstoke, Fareham, Havant, and Petersiield, 
in Hampshire; Hindoo, Mere, and Great Bedwin, in Wilt- 
shire; Surrey, Kent, Suffolk, Essex, Sussex, Norfolk, 
Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Corfe Castle, iu Dor- 
setshire ; Middlesex, except Uxbridge, on Saturdays; — 
as also Henley-in-Arden, Stratford-on-Avor«, and Warwick; 
all Oxfordshire, Abingdon, Farringdon, Wallingford, Wan- 
tage, and Lainboarne, in Berkshire; Cricklade, Swindon, 
Malmsbu'ry, Highworth, and Wootton Bassett, in Wiltshire; 
Cnmpden,. Bourton-on-the- Water, Stow, and Morto:i-in- 
Marsh, ill Gloucestershire; Shipstone, in Worcestershire; 
High Wycomb, and Beaconstield, in Bucks; — by the 
Coventry mail from Birmingham, which takes all letters 
to that city and its delivery, Nuneaton, Coleshill, Rugby, 
and Southam, in Warwickshire", Northamptonshire, Buek- 
inghamshire, Woodburn, Dunstable, Bedford Silsoe-, a»cj 

A A 



178 

Leighton Buzzard, in Bedfordshire; St. Albans, Berk- 
hemstead, Gaddesden, Hemel Hempsted, King's Langley, 
Tring, Watford, and Barnet in Herefordshire; Leicester, 
Hinckley, and Lutterworth, in Leicestershire. 

BRISTOL MAIL 

FROM BIRMINGHAM, 

Which takes all letters for the intermediate places; 
Worcestershire, (except Shipstone and those parts sent by 
Ihe Bewdley mail,) Gloucestershire, (except Campden, 
Stow, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Morton-iu-Marsh,) South 
Wales, Herefordshire, and Monmouthshire; Ludlow, and 
Bishop's Castle, in Shropshire ; Hungerford and Newbury, 
in Berkshire; Somersetshire, Wiltshire, (except those parts 
which go by way of Oxford and London,) Dorsetshire, 
(except Corfe Castle,) Devonshire, Cornwall, and South 
West parts of Ireland, and Hampshire, (except those places 
sent by way of London.) 

WALSALL MAIL, 

FROM THE NEW INN, PARK-STREET, 

Every evening at half past three o'clock, which takes 
all letters for Birmingham and its delivery: this mail 
arrives every day at two o'clock, with letters for the town 
and its delivery, — Overcharges allowed from nine in the 
morning to half past ten in the forenoon, and from four 
to eight in the evening. 



AN 

ACCOUNT OF THE VARIOUS COACHES* 

With their Departures and Arrivals. 
From the New Itm, Park-street. 

Perks's coach, every morning, (except Sundays) at nine 
o'clock, to Birmingham, and returns the same day from 
Birmingham, during the summer season at six o'clock, 
and during the winter season at five o'clock, in the evening ; 
this is a very useful coach to the respective towns of Birm- 
ingham and Walsall, for the conveyance of p»ssengers and 
parcels. 



179 
A LIST 

OF THE 

WAGGONS, $c. 



Adams's Birmingham waggon from his warehouse, 
Rushall-street, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday 
mornings, to his warehouse, Steel house-Lane, Birmingham, 
where goods are forwarded to London, Bristol, and all parts 
of the Kingdom. 

Adams's cart at ten o'clock the same days, for Birming- 
ham, &c. waggon and cart return in the evening of the 
same days. 

Adams's waggon for Wolverhampton daily, and forwards 
goods to Manchester, Liverpool, and all parts of the 
kingdom. 

Twiss's waggon, from Joseph Middleton's, Royal Oak 
Inn, every Tuesday and Saturday mornings, for Birming- 
ham, where goods are forwarded from his. warehouse, 
Dale-End to all parts of the kingdom; returns every 
Saturday and Wednesday evenings, and loads tor Stafford, 
Stone, Newcastle, and all parts of the North. 

Ling's Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow, 
Leeds, Durham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and all parts of 
the North, from his warehouse, Henry Lycett's, Golden 
Cup, Park-street, every Sunday and Thursday night, 
returns every Tuesday and Saturday morning, for Birming- 
ham and all parts of the kingdom. 

Solloway carrier loads at Henry Lycett's, Golden Cup, 
Park-street, for Lichfield and all parts of the North. 

Richard Harris, carrier, loads at Henry Lycett's, 
Golden Cup, Park-street, for Wolverhampton, every 
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

Ashmore, loads at Henry Lycett's, Golden Cnp, every 
Tuesday for Sheffield. 

Hodson lakes in parcels at the sign of the Bird in Hand, 
Park-street, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, for 
Bilston, 



180 

Stokes,. Bloxwich and Birmingham carrier, through 
Walsall every Saturday morning, to the sign of the Ship and 
Rainbow, in Birmingham. 

Goold, takes in parcels at the Distill, in Digbpth, every 
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, for Wolverhampton. 

Boddington, one horse cart, loads at his house, in New- 
street, every Tuesday, Thursday,, and Saturday morning, 
for Birmingham. 



CANAL CONVEYANCE. 



Adams's and Bickley's boats load at the wharf, at the- 
top of Park-street, every Wednesday, to all parts of the 
kingdom. 

Crowley and Hicklin load at the wharf to all parts of; 
the kingdom. 






ffiisctllmtQuti&ttitXtti* 



FORMS OF THE APPOINTMENT 



CHURCHWARDENS, 

Wliich takes place in the Vestry of the Parish Church of 
Walsall annually, on Easter Tuesday. 



FOR THE BOROUGH. 

We the Vicar, and Inhabitants of the town or 
borough of Walsall, according to ancient custom, 
being legally in vestry assembled, do elect and make 
choice of Churchwardens residing within the said 
town or borough, for the parish of Walsall aforesaid, 
for the year ensuing, (that is to say) the Vicar maketh 
choice of William Kendrick, to be one of the said 
Churchwardens, and the Inhabitants of the said town 
or borough make choice of Richard James, the younger, 
to be the other Churchwarden, residing in the said 
town or borough, for the year ensuing. In witness 
whereof we the Vicar and Inhabitants so assembled 
as aforesaid have hereunto subscribed our names this 
fifth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and 
sixty-three, 



182 

Robert Felton, Vicar, Robert Thornbill, 

Matthew Beale, Charles Vaull, 

John Scott, Will Lain Fenton, 

Thomas Huxley, John Mold, 

Samuel Livesay, Henry Nicholls, 

Joseph Barber, John Palmer, 

Robert Onions, John Heeley. 

FOR THE FOREIGN. 

We the Vicar of Walsall and Inhabitants of the 
Foreign of Walsall aforesaid, according to ancient 
custom, being legally in vestry assembled, do elect 
and make choice of Churchwardens residing within 
the said foreign of Walsall, for the year ensuing, (that 
is to say,) the Vicar maketh choice of William Green, 
of the Windmill, to be one of the said Churchwardens, 
and the Inhabitants of the said foreign of Walsall, make 
choice of Charles Thornbill, to be the other Church- 
warden, residing in the said foreign, for the year 
ensuing. In witness whereof we the Vicar and In- 
habitants assembled as aforesaid, have hereunto sub- 
scribed our names this fifth day of April, one thousand 
seven hundred and sixty three. 

Robert Felton, Vicar, 
Moses Yeomans, 
Ezra Meeson, 
George Thornhill, 
Richard Hollinsed. 

Witness, Jonathan Keudrick, 
Wm. Watson. 



183 
FORM OF THE APPOINTMENT 



OF tui: HESPTCTIVB 



OFFICERS 

AT THE COURT LEET. 





Walsall Borough^ 

and Foreign. S ^° w ' t# ^ ie v ' ew °f f ia "fc pledge 
with the Court Baron of the Right Hon. Orlando 
Lord Bradford, Lord of the manor of Walsall aforesaid, 
there holden the 31st day of October, 1812, before 
Joseph Stubbs, steward. 

Borough Homage. 

John Eld, Joseph Cowley, 

John V. Barber, Samuel Fletcher, 

Richard Rutter, William Nevill, 

William Pratt, Thomas Carter, 

Thomas James, Thomas Pearce, 

Joseph Haden, William Langley, 

John Smith, John Thurstan. 

We present Thomas Pearce to serve the office 
of constable, for the township of the said borough, for 
the year ensuing. 

We present Henry Lucas, William Ilichel, George 
Fox, William Wilkinson, James Unitt, Thomas 
Padgett, James Thacker, Charles Brunt, Richard 
Green, Joseph Wright, John Ferrington, William 
Glover, James Thomas, Samuel Mason, Thomas Mason, 



184 

and William Mason, to serve the office of deputy 
constables, for "the said township for the year ensuing. 

We present Thomas Tomlinson and James Brod- 
hurst, to serve th& office of clerks of the market for 
the said township, for the year ensuing. 

We present Thomas Nock Pcmberton, and Thomas 
Owen, to serve the office of flesh tasters for the said 
township, for the year ensuing. 

We present, elect, and choose William Mason, 
common pinner for the said township, at the said 
borough, for the year ensuing. 

We pain and amerse all persons that owe suit and 
service to the lord of this manor, and who have 
neglected this day to do suit and service at this court, 
each four-pence. 

A fie red ac this court by 
John Eld, 
John V. Barber. 

n 

John Eld, Joseph Cowley, 

John V. Barber, Samuel Fletcher, 

Richard R utter, William Nevill, 

William Pratt, Thomas Carter, 

Thomas James, Thomas Pearce, 

Joseph Haden, William Langley, 

John Smith, John Thurstan. 

The officers for the township of the Foreign are 
"appointed at the same time, previous to the appoint- 



185 

mcnt the various officers are invited to dine with the 
steward of the court, the expense of which is paid 
by the lord of the manor. 



31st Oct. 1812, 

FOREIGN. 

James Goodwin, Constable, 

Deputies, 

Samuel Smith, of Great Bloxwich 

James Wootton, of ditto 

William Burton, of the Parks 

William Giles, of the Windmill 

John Wigley, of Walsall Wood 

James Keeling, of ditto 

James Smith, Lime Pit Bank 

John Whitehouse, Birchills 

John Holland, Little Bloxwich 

£saac Newton, Stafford-street 

Joseph Hand, ditto 

Thomas Proud, Blakenell 

Joseph Nicholls, Short Heath 

David Evens, ditto 

Richard Taylor, Wallington Heath 

James Hope, Harden 

William Collier, Great Bloxwich, pinner 

Robert Turner, Walsall Wood, pinner 

B B 



186 



It was found necessary in the winter of 1811, to 
establish a patrole, particulars of divisions, &c. a» 
follow: — in each division a watch house was opened 
for the convenience of the patrole,. and the ex pence 
of providing firing, lanthornsv rattles, staveSj &c. wa» 
defrayed by the constable, out of the poor rates, and 
hand bills were circulated for the information of the 
inhabitants, of which the following is a copy. 

WALSALL PATROLE 

*Ofc Tftfc 

PROTECTION OF PROPERTY, 

1,811. 

1st. tflGti-STREET DIVISION. 

To the Bottom of Digbeth, including Adams's Row, 
and round Mr. Jenns's House, and Mr. Stubbs's 
Bank, and return again to the Top of Highr-street. 
Messrs. B. Barber. Messrs. Joseph Proffit. 

H. Cox- Joseph Jeans. 

Joseph Cotterellw William Emery. 

Joseph Curzon, William Smith. 

Francis Yates. Michael Hill. 

Thomas Needhath* William Hichel. 

Andrew Pool. H, Proirtt. 

William Rogers* Edward Parker. 

Thomas Shaw. Thomas Parker. 

Joseph Worrad. 



187 



2d. PARK-STREET DIVISION, 

Trom the Bridge in Park-street to the Top of the said 
Street, returning as far as Mr. Barwali's, in 

Messrs. John $mith. 
James Unitt. 
W. Coldfield^ 



Bridge-street. 



Messrs. John Sheldon. 

Samuel Hawkins. 
T. Wilson. 
James Pay ton. 



3d. RUSHALL-STREET DIVISION, 

From Mrs. Coopers, Hare and Hounds, to the Bottom 
of Rushall-street, returning to the Top of tlie said 
Street. 



Messrs. W. Forster. 

James Reynolds. 
Samuel Tonks. 
Joseph Woollatt. 
Daniel Turner. 
Thomas Padgett. 
Josiah Meeson. 
\V. Bagnall, juo. 
Samuel Johnson, 
Simon Smith. 



Messrs, James Unitt. 

Joseph Taylor. 
Isaac Lowe. 
John Stanton. 
Francis Thacker. 
T. Adams. 
J. V. Barber. 
G. B, Stubbs. 
Thomas Adams, 



190 

Though a constable is not bound to any precise 
time for this kind of watch, nor punishable if he omit 
it, barely for the omission, if he be ready upon occa- 
sion to do his office when required in these cases; yet 
it is in his power to hold such watches as often as he 
pleases, and it is convenient and justifiable; and 
herein the watchmen are the ministers and assistants 
of the constable, and are under the same protection 
with him, and may act as he does. 2 H. H. 97. 

There is a third kind of watch, which is by autho- 
rity of the justices of the peace; which also may be 
held at other times than those appointed by the 13 
Ed. I.: and the watch thus appointed has the same 
power as either of the former: and this seems to be 
within the power of any one justice, by the first 
assignment in the commission; but the safer and more 
usual way, is by order of sessions. Lamb. 186. 2 H„ 
H 97. Bait. c. 104. 

It seems agreed, that every inhabitant is bound 
to keep watch in his turn* or to find another. 2 
Haw. 80- 

And the watching and warding ought to be by 
men able of body, and sufficiently weaponed. Dalt. 
c. 101. 

A watchman has a double protection of the law: 
I. As an assistant to the constable, when the constable 
is present or in the watch; and so every man assisting 
the constable in the execution of his office, has the 
same protection that the law gives the constable. £ f 



191 

Purely as a watchman, set by order of lawj and tire 
Jaw takes notice of his authority sub en nomine; and 
therefore killing of a watchman in the execution of 
bis office, is murder. 2 H. H. 08. 3 Inst. 62. 9 
Co. 66. 

If a watchman should be killed in endeavouring 
to apprehend a burglar, his executors shall be entitled 
to 401. reward. 5 Ann. 31. s. 2. 

If any person shall refuse to watch in his turn, at 
the commandment of the constable, he may present 
the default at the assizes or sesssions, or complain 
thereof to any justice, who may bind the offender 
to the good behaviour, and so over to the next 
sessions. Dalt. c. 104; and there he may be indicted. 
2 Haw. 60. 

THOMAS PEARCE, 
Constable. 



BOROUGH OF WALSALL 

COURT LEET. 

At the Court Leet of the Right Honourable Orlando, 
Lord Bradford, Lord of the Manor of Walsall, 
there holden, the 27*/* Day of October, 1S06, before 
Thomas Hodgkins, Steward :—- 

It was presented and ordered, by the jurors, that 
for the advantage of the public;, in general, and the 



102 

better management of the market, no person what- 
ever shall expose to sale any wares, merchandise, 
pigs, poultry, or provisions of any kind, in the foot 
paths of the High-street of this town; and that the 
clerks of the market, with the assistance of the con- 
stables, be desired to carry this resolution into effect; 
and that whatever person or persons are found trans* 
gressing the aforesaid resolutions, be fined in the sum 
of Ten Shillings and Six-pence. 

Resolved, that any tradesman working at his usual 
occupation, or butchers suffering their blocks to stand 
in the public paths, will be fined in the sum of Ten 
Shillings and Six-pence. 

The jurors also directed, that the above present- 
ment and Resolutions be printed and distributed, that 
no person may plead ignorance, for the purpose of 
avoiding an indictment and penalties, which will be 
incurred, by a breach of the above stated resolutions. 

November 3rd. 1£0'5. 



193 

THE OPINION OF 

Mr. WILLIAM MOTT* 

TAKEN AT THE JOIST EXPENCE OF THE CHURCHWARDENS 

OF THE 

BOROUGH AND FOREIGN 

OF 



WALSALL, 



As to the Customary Charges of the respective Townships. 

MAY 14, 1803. 



CASE. 

The parish of Walsall consists of what is called 
the Borough of Walsall, and the Foreign of Walsall, 
and the church of Walsall is the parish church. 

The custom of choosing churchwardens is for the 
vicar and Borough, each to choose one, within the 
limits of, and (o act for the Borough; and for the 
vicar and Foreign, each, to choose one, within the 
limits of, and to act for the Foreign, which four are 
the churchwardens for the parish of Walsall. 

The churchwardens of the Borough, seem to have 
the chief management of the repairs of the church, 
and to have paid the bills, and all other incidental 
charges relating to the ofifice of churchwardens within 
the parish, and to have given an account of the whole 
expences to the parish at large; and the Borough lias 
been rated (or half such expences and paid them, and 

c c 



Wi 

the Foreign has been rated and paid the other half, 
by their own Foreign churchwardens, except in some 
instances they have objected to items which have been 
allowed. 

There is a chapel of ease at Bloxwich, which is 
in the Foreign, but there is no chapelwarden elected 
or sworn for the chapelry, the Foreign churchwardens 
generally act as chapelwardens of Bloxwich, and keep 
it in repair out of their own rates* 

The Sacrament bread and wine used at Bloxwich 
chapel, and sparrows heads paid for by the Foreign 
officers, have been allowed in the churchwardens 
accounts as part of the disbursements of the parish 
at large. 

The Foreign officers object to charges in the 
parish account, for ornaments of their parish church 
of Walsall and other incidental expences of the 
churchwardens in their office, under the idea, that they 
are exempt from and not liable to such payments, as 
having a chapel of ease of their own to maintain, and 
that the Borough alone ought to be at such Charges. 

Thus far upon perusing the parish book and other 
papers seems to be the statement for consideration. 

OPINION. 

My opinion is, that as the inhabitants of the Foreign 
are parishioners of Walsall, as well as thoinhabitants 



195 

of the Borough, that they are equally liable to con- 
tribute to all the charges of repairing the church, the 
bells, ornaments, and all other incidental expences, 
proper to be allowed churchwardens in the execution 
of their office, and that the objection of the Foreign 
inhabitants to contribute thereto is not well founded. 

I think the Sacrament bread and wine used at the 
chapel at Bloxwich, and sparrows heads, and such like 
parochial expcnces of the Foreign churchwardens, 
should be brought into the general churchwardens* 
accounts for Walsall, as a part of the incidental 
charges to which the whole parish is liable, for if the 
bread and wine was not used by the parishioners in 
Bloxwich chapel, more would be used in Walsall 
church, and which would then be brought into that 
account. 

As to the repairs of the chapel of Bloxwich those 
must be borne by the inhabitants of the chapelry 
independent of any thing they are liable to pay to the 
mother church, as it is merely a chapel of ease for 
the inhabitants, and where that is so, (unless there is 
some special custom to the contrary) the inhabitants 
within such a chapelry must pay for the convenience 
of having such a chapel. 

Therefore as there seems to be a custom (which 
may be a good one) for the Foreign churchwardens 
to raise and pay half the amount of the expenditure 
(with a few exceptions to particular items which I 
do not think were well founded) I advise them to con- 



196 

tinue to pay such half in future, (bringing the bread 
and Sacrament wine used at Bloxwich, and the spar- 
rows heads, and any other incidental expences as above- 
meniidned into the Walsall accounts) and not to 
insist upon any exemption, on account of ornaments, 
ringing, or such like expences as are proper to be 
allowed churchwardens in the execution of their office, 
as I do not think such exemption can be supported in 
this ease. 

If the custom should be disputed, and on a trial 
at law, prove a bad custom, the consequence must be, 
that one geneial equal rate must be made on all the 
parishioners, and all occupiers of houses and lands 
throughout the whole parish, and collected by all the 
churchwardens. 

WILLIAM NEVILL, 7 „ „ ,_ . ■ '! ' 

JOHN E YL AND, j Borou S h churchwarden* 



JOSEPH CURTIS, 
JOSEPH DAY, 



? Foreign Churchwardens. 



(copy) 
ENDOWMENT OF WALSALL VICARAGE, 

Dated 1248. 

,r i ,, 1 Appropriate ejusdem Ecclesia Sf Ordinatio 
H alsall. J y^ aH<£per Kogerum Ccv. Sf Lich. Episcopum. 

Universis Chr'isti fidelibus ad quos praesens scriptum 
leryeneHfc Rogeriis Dei gratia Coventrensis & Lich- 



197 

f-'xH-iiris Episcopns, & Ricardus Thesauraritts Lich. 
Salutcm in domino sempiti.'mam, INoverit universitas vestra, 
quod cum, Ilenricus, Dei gratia Rex Anglorum illustris 
abbuti & conveutui de Hales, pra± monstratensis ordinis, 
quorum Eeclesiam pater ejusfundaverat patronatum Eecle- 
siam de Waleshale contulissit; optans quod Ecclesire Fruetus 
in usus eederent corundem; idem Abbas & Conventus 
ordiuationi nostra se supposuerunt quoad Eeclesiam ante- 
dictam & pertinentias ejus qu in corum literis patentibus, 
super confectis plenius Continetur Nos egitur domini 
Regis affectum pium in domino oommendantes, desideran- 
tes etiam profectum dietorum religiosorum, qui bus propter 
Coufluentiam hospitum, ut dicitur, propria? uon suppetunt 
facultates divince carilates intuitu, & ob ejusdem dicti 
domini Regis reverenti.im & ad ejus instantiam, de consensu 
Capituli Lichfeldensis Oidinaudo decresimus, quod cum 
Magister Vincentius Rector Ecclesioe de Waleshale ipsi 
cesserit, vtl decesserit dicti abbas & Conventus, dictain 
Eeclesiam de Waleshale habeant, cum peitinentixs, & fruc- 
tibus ejus in usus proprios eonvertendo, salva. tamen 
A icaria tresdecem Marcarum assignandarum Vicario, per 
viros fidelis & discretos ad hoc per Episcopum deputatos, 
rn certis obventionibus Ecclesia?; qui etiam areatn & aedi- 
'ficra Ecclesioe divident inter pr?edictosreligiosos & Vicarium, 
secundum quod ratione pioevia viderint expedire. 

^ icarius autem, qui pro tempore fuerit,onera Episcopalia 
& Archidiacoualia consueta & debita sustinebit ad onera 
vero Capellarum Ecclesite de Wale.ihale consueta; scilicet 
<le Wodnesburi & de Rushale & sevvicia sibi debita Susti- 
uenda habeatidem Vioarius prieter tresdecem marcassibi 
Ifcuitdum quod dictum est superius assignandas omnes 
©bveiitiones Citpillyum earundtm praster garbas Quqj 



198 

qiudem obventiones si ad- ser'vicia 3c onera in praedictis 

Capellis, informa pnemista sustinenda non sufticiant, in 

alius ejusdem Ecclesiae proventibus, una cum eisdem 

obventionibus per viros suprascriptos dicto vicario provi- 

deatur ; unde in pr&enominatis Capellis eadem servioia & 

onera honeste. Valeat sustiuere Alia veid onera Abbas & 

Vicarius simul pro suis portionibus sustinebunt: Salvo 

etiam quod Abbas & Conventus saepedicti singulis annis 

Solvant Ecclesiae Licbfeldensi sex marcas quod ad 

petitionem dictorum Abbatis & Conventus duximus ordi- 

nandum, ad eortim perpetuam pacem super Ecclesid 

Saeperdicta, in qua. 5 e dicebat aliquando Liehfeldensis 

Ecclesia jus habere, de dietis autem sex marcis, sexaginta 

iolidos deputavimus ad sustentationem operis Ecclesiae 

Liehfeldensis; Residuos vero * * s Vicarius qui ad rnissam 

beatae Virginis, Vicissim per Annum, secundum, quod 

moris est fuerint deputati per Capelianum beatae Virginis 

ipsis dicta pecunia tribuenda; cui dum viginti solidi solvi 

debent; Sexaginta vero solidi ipsi qui ad custodiam 

fabricse fueiit deputatus terminis intVascriptis itascil, quod 

tres marcae solvantur apud Lich. in festo sancti Michaelis; 

ties verd residuae in festo resurrectionis dominicae persol- 

vantur. Jurabit etiam dictus abbas de Hales qui pro 

tempore fuerit, se dictas sex marcas dietis terminis fideliter 

soliturum. Non licebit autem decano & Capitulo Lich. 

in alios usus, quam supradictos, convertere pecuniam 

memoratam. In praemissorum autem testimonium & 

munimen, praesentem paginam sigillis nostris & sigillis 

Decani & Capituli Liehfeldensis & Abbatis & Conventus 

de Hales, in consensus sui testimonium, fecimus roborari; 

salvo Conventrensis & Liehfeldensis Ecclesiae jure ponti- 

ficnli & parochiuli, actum apud Lich. in Crastino beati 

Thomas Martyris Anno Domini millessimo, ducentessimo 

^uadragessimo octavo. 



199 



TRANSLATION 

OF THE 

ENDOWMENT OF WALSALL VICARAGE, 
Dated 1248. 



-\ The Appropriation of the said Church and the 
IValsaU. > settling of the Vicarage, by Roger, Bishop of 

J Coventry and Lichfield. 
To all the faithful in Christ to whom this present 
writing shall come, Roger, by the Grace of God, Bishop 
of Coventry and Lichfield, and Richard, Treasurer of 
Lichfield, eternal health in the Lord, know all of yob, 
that when Henry by the Grace of God, the illustrious 
King of England, gave to the Abbot and Convent of 
Halesowen, the patronage of the Church of Walsall, (whose 
Father had founded the Church of the aforeshewn order, 
wishing that the Fruits of the Church should be yielded 
to the use of the aforesaid, the same Abbot and Convent 
have given themselves up to our decree with regard to the 
aforesaid Church and its appurtenances) which is more 
fully set forth in their Letters Patent above made. We 
THEREFORE, approving the pious disposition in the Lord 
of our Lord the King, desiring also the advancement of 
the said religious Persons, to whom on account of the 
conflux of Strangers, as it is reported, sufficient oppor- 
tunity is not afforded at being present at the divine 
Hymns, and out of reverence of the same Lord the King, 
and at his desire, and with the consent of the Chapter of 



200 

Lichfield, we have decreed, that when the Master Vincent, 
the Rector of the Church of Walsall shall have given up 
or yielded to him, the said Abbot and Convent, may have 
the said Church of Walsall with its appurtenances and 
fruits, to convert them to their proper use; to the vicarage 
being reserved thirty Marks, to be paid to the Vicar by 
faithful and discreet Persons, deputed by the Bishop for 
this purpose from certain Income of the Church, who shall 
also divide the Area and the Buildings of the Church 
between the aforesaid religious persons and the Vicar, as 
they in their consideration may think fit. But the vicar 
for the time being shall pay the accustomed burthens and 
dues to the Bishop and the Archdeacon. But for the 
support of the accustomed burdens and services due to 
them from the Chapels of the Church of Walsall, to wit, 
of Wednesbury and Rushall, the same Vicar shall have 
over and above the Thirty Marks above given to him, 
all the revenues of the above Chapels, except the Sheaves 
of Corn, which revenues, if they shall not be sufficient 
to bear the service and burdens of the aforesaid Chapels, 
according to the aforeshewn form, the Vicar shall be pro- 
vided by the above written Men from other Income of the 
Church, together with those revenues from whence he may 
be able honestly to bear the same burdens and services in 
the above named Chapels. But the said Abbot and Vicar 
shall bear the other burdens according to their respective 
proportions. Provided, nevertheless, the Abbot and Convent 
so mentioned shall pay annually to the Church at Lichfield, 
Six Marks, which we have decreed at the petition of the 
aforesaid Abbot and Convent, for their peaceable posses- 
sion of the aforesaid Church, over which the Church 
of Lichfield sometimes claimed a right out of the afore- 
suid Six Marks, we have decreed sixty shillings for the 



201 

support of the repairs of the Church of Lichfield, the 
remainder to the twenty Vicars, who are deputed alter- 
nately, every year, according as the custom is, to celebrate 
the Mass of the blessed Virgin, the above mentioned 
Money to be given to them by the Chaplain of the blessed 
Virgin, to whom the twenty shillings ought then to be 
paid; but the sixty shillings to him who is deputed to 
take care of the Fabric, at the underwritten periods, so 
that three Marks be paid at Lichfield upon the Feast of 
Saint Michael, and the three remaining upon the Feast of 
the annunciation of our Lord. The above mentioned 
Abbot of Halesowen (for the time being) shall swear that 
he will faithfully pay the aforesaid Six Marks at the above 
written periods. But it shall not be lawful for the Dean 
and Chapter of Lichfield to convert the said Monev to 
any other than the above mentioned use. In Witness to 
and for the confirmation of these Presents and Premises, 
we have given effect to these Pages by our Seals and bv 
the Seals of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield and 
Coventry, and of the Abbot and Convent of Halesowen. 
In testimony of their assent, be it however reserved to tlu* 
Church of Coventry and Lichfield the pontifical and 
parochial authority done at Lichfield, the day after the 
blessed Thomas the Martyr, in the year of our Lord One 
Thousand Two Hundred and Forty-eight. 

The present vicar, the Rev. P. Pratt, succeeded 
to the vicarage in the year 1796, as stated in 
page 39 ; a preacher whose discourses are deliv- 
ered in a dignified, yet unaffected, style ; and 
from their piety and eloquence are calculated to have 
the desirable tendency of reclaiming the vicious, and 
strengthening the christian hearer in his faffcH*. 
r> d 



202 



EXPENSE OF THE POOR, 

Copied from the Parish Books for Walsall Borough. 



Mr. Thomas Roper and Mr. Samuel Pearson, 
Overseers, 1686. 

£. s. d. 

Paid by Mr. Roper, 25 weeks .. 4116 5 

Paid by Mr. Pearson, 25 weeks . . 41 6 9 

Paid for by charges, Mr. Roper . . 6 18 9 

Paid for by ditto, Mr. Pearson . . 7 10 8 



97 12 7 



Total leveys 95 12 2 

Received of Mr. Turnpenny . . . . 4 
Ditto of Mr. Warren &Benj. Gorton 1 13 8 



101 5 10 



Not received in the leveys .... 072 

In other charges 6 1 

Paid John Ball & Simon Bibb, which 

balances the account , , . . , . SOU 



203 

The accounts of Mr. Thos. Spurrier, Mr. Thos. 
Burrowes, Mr. James Biggs, and Mr. Wm. Ehvell, 
Overseers of the poor, for the year 1749. 

£. s. d. 
Received by leveys. 350 81 

Disburst 338 17 . 9| 



Upon balance . . 11 3 6\ 



Mr. William Mold and Mr. Francis Yates, Over- 
seers of the Poor of the township of the borough of 
Walsall, collected upon 15 poor rates, at 8d. in the 
pound, from Easter, 1809, to Easter, 1810, being 55 

weeks .. -£197S 19 8* 

Collected by Messrs. Thos. Spurrier, 

James Biggs, and Wm. Elwell, in 

1749 350 85 

Difference in poor rates in 68 -years, 

(viz.) from 1749 to 1810 1695 18 111 



204 

An Eutrey of all the Provision for the Workhouse, from 
the 12th to the 19th of April, exclusive, 1733. 

EXTRACTED FROM THE PARISH BOOK. 

£. S. d. 

1 Side of pork, wt. SOlbl ' 7 5 

1 Leg of veal, wt. 9lb , 1 3 

gftb. of rice 5 4 

61b. ofshugar, atSid 1 9 

7 Doz. of household bread 7 

5 Cheeses ..0 9 3 

21b. of butter 8| 

2 Pecks and quartter of wheat flower ..01 6 

Salt, 1 peek and lib 1 

Oatmeal, 1 peck and 3 quartters 1 3 

31b. of candles 1 3 

1 Strike of malt . 3 2 

For hops and barm, and for brewing . . . . 1 1 

Milk 024 



2 4 3§ 



PRICE OF PROVISIONS, 1812. 

£. s. d. 

Malt, per bushel 14 

Wheat, ditto 1 3 

Oatmeal, ditto 13 

Beef, mutton and veal, per lb S 

Coals, per ton 12 6 



205 



VESTRY BOOK. 

Messrs. Samuel Pearson and Henry Halloway's 
accompts, being Churchwardens for the years 1(590 
and I6yl, given up the 14th day of October. 

x. s. d. 
The disbursements for both years amount 

to, for the borough and foreign , . . . 80 18 3 

Received towards this .. .. 80 15 9 

Remaining due to us Sam. Pearson and 

H. Halloway 2 6 



POPULATION 

OF THE 

BOROUGH Sf FOREIGN OF WALSALL. 



Population of the Borough of Walsall, taken from the 
Returns under an Act of Parliament, 

May, 1801. 

Inhabited houses ,, 1043 

Uninhabited do. .. 135 Total of houses .. 1175 

Males 2500 

Females .. ,, ,, 2077 Total of persons . . 5177 



206 

May, 1811. 

Inhabited houses . • 1131 - 

Uninhabited do. .. 19 Total ofhouses .. 1150 

Males 2686 

Females .. ». .. 2855 Total of persons . . 5541 

Increased population 364 

Increase of inhabited houses .. .. 88 

Diminution in total of houses . . . . 23 

Poor in workhouse, May, 1801. . .. 197 

Ditto, May, 1811.. .. 46 



Population of the Foreign of Walsall, taken from the 
Returns under an Act of Parliament* 



May, 1801. 



Inhabited houses . . 941 

Uninhabited do. . . 50 Total of houses . . 991 

Males 2774 

Females . . . . . . 24 13 Total of persons. . 5222 

May, 1811. 

Inhabited houses . . 1060 

Uninhabited do. . . 35 Total of houses . . 1095 

Males 3009 

Females 2639 Total of persons, , 564S 

Increased population 426 



207 

Population of the borough of Walsall 
Ditto of the foreign of ditto 



. 55-11 
. 5643 

11,189 



Baptisms in the 


Parish 


Church o 


/ Walsall, for the 




following Years: — 






Males. Females. 


1801 


t . . 


123 .... 110 


1S02 


• • • 


139 




141 


1803 


• » • 


191 




157 


1801 


... 


159 




179 


1S05 


... 


143 




145 


1806 


i • • • 


161 




152 


1807 


. . . . 


170 




145 


1808 


< • • 


146 




166 


1809 


■ . . . 


162 




151 


1810 


> • • « 


153 




124 




1540 


1470 


Total ba 


ptisms 


3010 







Burials in the Parish Church of Walsall, for the foliate* 





ing Years: — 






Males. 


Females. 


1801 


.... 163 


154 


180S 


*mi 117 


113 



203 





Burials continued 








Males. 


Fotidles 


J 80S 


ft ft 1 


113 


103 


1804 




78 


72 


1805 


. . < 


99 


125 


180(5 


• f 


74 


03 


1807 


i • • 


65 


91 


1808 


» • • 


85 


75 


1809 


. . • 


103 


10L 


1810 


• . • 


129 


119 



1020 



Total burials 2017 



1021 



WALSALL 

VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION. 



A handsome subscription was entered into by the 
town, to defray the expense of raising a corps of 
cavalry and another of infantry, and a meeting took 
place at the Guildhall, as follows. It may be remark- 
ed that the alacrity with which these associations were 
completed, forms an interesting and important feature 
in the loyalty of the place :— 



209 

May the 13th, 17ftft Walsall Loyal Volunteer Asso- 
ciation, — At a meeting held this clay in th: GuikU 



Joseph Scott, Esq. in the Chair. 

The chairman communicated a letter from tht 
Marquis of Stairord, that his Majesty had been graci 
ously pleased to accept the oiler of sovw e of th< 
Walsall Loyal Volunteer Cavalry. — The following is 
a copy addressed to Joseph Scott, Esq. 



Bath, May the 8th, 1708. 

Sir, 

1 received, this morning, a letter from Mr. Secretary 
Dundas, the following is the paragraph relating to 
Walsall : — 

(Copy.) 

" My Lord, 

u The proposals from the town of Walsall to 
" form a troop of Cavalry, free of expence to goveru- 
" ment, have been layed before the King, and 1 am 
" commanded to express the satisfaction with which 
" his Majesty has received this proof of the zeal and 
" public spirit of the persons who have offered their 
" services in the present critical situation of the rc# i 

I- £ 



210 

" try, and I am desired to signify Ins Majesty's 
" gracious acceptance of their offer. 

" 1 am your Lordship's, &c. 

(Signed) « H. DUNDAS." 

I am, Sir, 
Your most obedient humble servant, 

STAFFORD. 



Names of Officers and Gentlemen of the Walsall Loyal 
Volunteer Association. 

29th of June, 1798. 

Joseph Scott, esq. Captain, 
James Adams, esq. 1st Lieut, 
J. V. Barber, esq. 2nd Lieut. 
T. O. Chinner, esq. Cornet, 
John Hemming, esq. Adjutant. 

Joseph Elliot Joseph Mountfort 

Benjamin Willets John M. Badger 

James Penn Thomas Scott 

William Mayne William Osborne 

John Eld George Strongitharm 

John Adams Samuel Kent Parson 

H. Adams Thomas James Parson 

William Moore Samuel Perks 

John Batte John Brindley 



211 



Samuel Fletcher 
Will-am Bagley 
George Coleman 
Joseph Bealey Stanley 
Joseph Middleton 
Wm. Gilbert Wood 
Joseph Round 
Thomas Adams, jun. 
Robert Shenton 
John Wood 



James Bate 
Moses Taylor 
William Davis 
T. N. Pemberton 
Edward Ban ton 
Benjamin Whitehouse 
James Gunn 
Richard Rutter 
Joseph Rock 
Charles Perks 



Presentation of the Standard Colours to the associated 
Corps of Cavalry and Infantry. 

On Monday morning, the 23rd of September, 1799, 
the presentation of the cavalry standard took place, at 
Barr Beacon, about three miles from Walsall. The 
assemblage of company to witness this ceremony was 
elegant and numerous — the morning was fine, and the 
scene was interesting and impressive. The standard 
was consecrated by the Rev. John Darwall, Chaplain 
to the Walsall Loyal Volunteer Cavalry ; and the 
address and prayer (here copied) was delivered in the 
most solemn aud energetic style. The standard was 
presented to Captain Scott, by Mrs. W. Adams, of 
Walsall, as proxy for Lady Scott, assisted by Captain 
Scott's children, who, on this occasion, made a reply 
to the address which pourtrayed the feelings of a man 
with the best interests of his country at heart. 



212 

THE FOLLOWING 

ADDRESS AND PRAYEH, 

OFFERED UPON THE 

CONSECRATION OF THEIR STANDARD, 

On Monday the 23rd of September, 1799, 

ARE RESPECTFULLY PRESENTED TO THE GENTLEMEN 

OF THE 

WALSALL LOYAL VOLUNTEER CAVALRY, 
BY THEIR CHAPLAIN, 

AND RJOST ODEpiENT SERVANT, 

J. DARWALL. 

Gentlemen, 
The occasion bo highly honourable to yourselves, which 
now call* upon me to address you, mjst prove to every 
stn<ible and loyal Briton an additional cause of satisfaction 
in his country, not only as increasing its strength, but 
ajso as affording a further mark of that national spirit of 
unanimity, which has so universally displayed itself. 

Gentlemen, too much honour cannot be ascribed to 
those independent gentlemen in general, who have given 
vigour to these measures for public security by taking the 
command in their persons, or by patriotic contributions 
from their property ; and among these instances, no one 
can be found more truly respectable and munificent, than 
that gentleman, to whose generosity and exertion, our 
corps chiefly owes its existence. Circumstances forbid me 
to speak to this particular, with the precision and the 



£13 

frarmlh tnv i <ici"; uat :on would dictate; but it is evident 
lli.it evtry consufef&te in. in ought to look to him with 
gratitude, and I am sure the heart of tvery individual 
in our corps must beat towards him with the most sincere 

and perfect esteem. 

I 

Gentlemen, it will be obvious to you, that union of 
sentiment in a people, is the only secure basis of civilized 
government, and that nothing can tend so effectually to 
create a general esteem for the salutary restraints of order, 
founded in the laws of justice, or a greater veneration 
for our established government from whence such laws 
proceed, as that sanction thus given by gentlemen, alike 
bituated, and with connections and influence similar to 
your own. Under these sentiments that zeal and spirit 
which lias induced you to unite, together in the determined 
resolution of protecting your king and country, your religion 
and laws, against the d.uing alt veks oi' foreign enemies, 
or the pernicious encrom brntuts of internal ones, must 
also impress your minds with a grateful consciousness, 
that vou are .discharging a duty highly honourable to your- 
selves and useful to your neighbours, and nobly pre s enting 
to future times an example, which remotest poaterity may 
justly admire, and warmly emulate. Regarding, as you 
must, a just government and a pure religion, the fruits 
of honest industry and the possessions of lawful inheritance, 
as the divine gifts of Omnipotence, vigilance to preserve, 
and activity to defend such blessings, jou will deem a 
part of your duty to thai Clod, by whose gracious bounty, 
in the order of his Providence, they have been bestowed 
upon you. 

Gentlemen, amid;t the arduous contest we have so 
long had with an enemy whom no tics of justice can bind, 



214 

whom no fear of a Supreme Being can awe, it must afford 
satisfaction to every good man to have observed, that 
on the part of our countrymen, uo brilliant success has 
been obtained, without the return of humble and grateful 
acknowledgments to the Eternal God of Heaven. This 
must afford satisfaction as proving, that neither the art* 
of insidious pursuasion, difficulties, nor dangers, could 
make Englishmen disown the existence of a superintending 
Providence, nor the spirit of military glory efface from 
their minds, the Faith and the Hope of christians. 

And it must be a reflection further pleasing, that the 
veneration of a God still continues among us to excite 
those virtues which must promote public unanimity and 
success, and inspire those social affections which so much 
contribute to the comfort and enjoyment of private life. 

You, Gentlemen, I trust have devoted yourselves to the 
service of your country, under the influence of those 
principles which spring from a firm belief in the truths 
of Christianity, and must naturally attach themselves to all 
those, who are practiced in the offices of that pure system 
of religion established in this kingdom. 

In these sentiments I have no doubt, but that you will 
earnestly and devoutly join in prayer, wherein we now 
proceed to dedicate this banner to our God. 



PRAYER. 

O ETERNAL God of heaven and earth, by whose 
almighty wisdom, all things are conducted, and to whose 
tontroul all human events are subject; who dost govern 



215 

the hearts of men, and knit them together in the union ol' 
social love, or for their wickedness permittest them to rage 
with fatal fury against each other; we acknowledge thy 
wisdom and goodness in all thy dispensations, and humbly 
implore that thy grace may ever go before us, so that our 
inclinations, desires, and actions, may be pleasing in thy 
sight. Grant, that in the obedience of thee, and the 
service and protection of each other, we may be always 
of one mind and one judgment: Let the sight of this 
banner, which we now with sincere humility dedicate to 
thee, ever call to our minds the value of that holy religion 
and happy government, which in thy benignant providence 
thou hast permitted to be established among us: And if 
at any time it should be thy will, that we should be called 
to the contest of danger in defence of thy gracious gifts, 
grant, '.* that in thy name, we may set up our banners," 
and fight with faith and courage to protect all these 
blessings which thou hast bestowed upon us. And we 
further implore thy grace to enable us to acknowledge 
every instance of success with gratitude to thee, or, sub- 
missive to thy almighty wisdom, to bear every disastrous 
event with religious fortitude. 

All this we ask in thy name, and through the merits 
of Jesus Christ, thy Son, to whom, with thee and the 
Holy Ghost, as we are taught in thy revealed word, we 
ascribe, as to one God, everlasting praise and glory. 
Amen. 

In 1S02, on the dissolution of the Association, 
the members of the Walsall Volunteer Cavalry, in 
consideration of the handsome and spirited conduct 
of their captain during their association, presented 
him with a silver cup, of the value of fifty guineas. 



210 

At the same time an 1 place the infantry colours 

were consecrated by the Rev. Kipling, lecturer 

of Walsall, ami presented to Richard .k-jron, esq. 
captain, by Miss Leigh, a daughter of the Rev. \V. 
Leigh's, of Ashbourne Hall, in the county of Derby, 
accompanied by an appropriate address, to which, 
Captain Jesson returned a suitable reply. 

Richard Jesson, Esq. Captain-, "^ 
William Adie, Esq. Lie utenant, ? Officers.* 
Richard James, Esq. Ensign. J 

After the ceremony, the corporation of Walsall, 
fully sensible of the zeal manifested by the neighbour- 
ing gentlemen and their fellow-townsmen, with a 
liberality that reflects the highest credit, provided 
a dinner at the George Inn, of this town, of which 
the neighbouring clergy, gentry, and associated corps 
partook, — the late William Adams, esq. mayor, pre- 
sided. The dinnerf was excellent, and consisted of 
the choicest articles the season afforded ; a band of 
music increased the pleasure of the entertainment, 
several good songs enlivened the happy moments, and 
the company spent the evening in the highest state of 
hilarity. 



* The names of the gentlemen of the infantry would have been 
given, but from their number being too great for insertion. 

•T The dinner and entertainment cost the corporation upwards 
one hundred guineas. 



21? 
BIBLE SOCIETY. 



The inhabitants of Walsall have been as forward 
in displaying their zeal for the cause of Christianity, 
as they have been loyal in their voluntary devotion 
to the service of the state, in times of exigence and 
danger. From sentiments like these the Bible Society 
was formed in the year 18L2,and its founders have justly 
concurred with their fellow countrymen, in thinking 
that the dissemination of the Sacred Scriptures is the 
surest way of spreading the advantages of our Holy 
Religion. In this valuable undertaking, there has been 
a rare and almost unexceptionable union of the nu- 
merous sect«, into which the Christian Hierarchy 
is divided : different religious parties, forgetting 
their own separate interests, have joined in the promul- 
gation of those truths, which form the basis of the 
religion of all; and the cause of personal morality 
has been considered as best subserved by the incul- 
cation of appropriate principles, only to be found in 
their purity in the Bible. From the liberality of its 
supporters, the Walsall Bible Society is in a flourishing 
state;* and to perpetuate its utility against any fluctu- 
ation of circumstances, a considerable sum remaining 
in the hands of the treasurer, has been laid apart as 
a fund, and the interest only applied to the services 
of the Society. It is regulated by a president, vice- 
president, treasurer, secretary, and committee. 

■ $rc ippmi printed by Mr. Milwsml, WtiUall. 

r f 



75 

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221 

It must appear obvious to every liberal and con- 
templative mind, that these various institutions must 
be productive of essential utility, not only to the 
respective individuals cf which they are composed, 
but to the different parishes of which they constitute 
a part. — The Lodges allow 10s. 6\1. per week, and a 
surgeon, in case of sickness, accidents, &c a,od most 
of the Clubs from 6s. to 8s. per week, and the surgeon, 
exclusive of the Gifts. — Suppose a member to belong 
to a Life Club and Gift, his weekly pay would be 
from 14s. tolos. per week; suppose he is in a Lodge 
and Club, about 18s. (jd. per week ; and should he be 
in a Gift also, £l. 6"s. (id. 

The number of Lodges, Clubs and Benefit Societies 
at Walsall, exceeds any other town in the county of 
Stafford. 



SURVEY OF BYE ROADS. 



The township of the borough of Walsall surveyed by 
John Lambert and John Siubbs, 1768. 

From the town of Walsall toFullbrook, from Hole 
End to Digberth, from the Four Crosses in Hall Lane, 
by New Mills, to Bescot Brook; from the Wolver- 
hampton turnpike road, the Park Lane, to the Pleck; 
and from the Plcck, along the Pleck Laue, to James 



222 

Bridge; and from the bottom of Rushall-stieet to Mr, 
Pershouse's Pool; from Haine's Well, near Mr. 
Cooper's, to the white stump in Wood End Lane; 
from Haine's aforesaid, along the Peakhouse Lane to 
Barr Meadows; from the Town's End to Park Brook, 
which roads have usually been repaired by the inha- 
bitants of the borough; and the justices of the borough 
and foreign of Walsall, at their Special Sessions, on 
the 1st day of Nov. 176S, ordered that the inhabit- 
ants of the said borough be liable to do statute work ; 
— shall do two days work on the new district of the 
Walsall turnpike road yearly, the other four £ ays to 
the bye roads. 



The liberty of Wood End, the Town's End, and Cald~ 
more, in the foreign of Walsall, surveyed by Richard 
Green and Joseph Jocsbcrry, 17G8. 

From the white stump in Wood End Lane to the 
Gospel Tree, near the Crown, in Wood End Lane; 
from the Field Gate, near the chapel ground, through 
Caldmore, to the lane leading to Fullbrook, the 
Town's End Bank, and Marsh Lane, which roads have 
been usually repaired by the surveyors of the liberty of 
Wood End, the Town's End and Caldmore. 

The above liberties are to do two days statute work 
on the old turnpike road yearly, if required, 1st Nov. 
1768, and four days duty to the bye roads in the said 
liberties, yearly. 



Q23 



The liberty of Great Bloxwich, Little Bloxwick and 
Harden, in the foreign of Walsall, surveyed by Robt. 
Hildick and Thos, Phillips, 1768. 



From the Wolverhampton turnpike road, by 
Merry's, the Blue Lane, to Hambridge Forge Brook; 
from the said Merry's house, through Birchills to 
Powk Hill Brook, at the bottom of Reed's Wood; from 
the end of Park-street, Walsall, through Great Blox- 
wich, to Essington Wood Brook, which runs by the 
side of Essington Wood; from Great Bloxwich Chapel, 
to Barn Hales, on Essington Wood ; from Bloxwich 
Field Gate, the Wolverhampton turnpike road, 
through Little Bloxwich, to a great stone in Thistly 
Lane, near Little Wyrley; from the Snead Brook, 
over Short Heath, to Clock Mill Brook, and which is 
the Wolverhampton turnpike road and about three 
quarters of a mile; from Thos. Heath's side Barr, 
through Harden, to Colepool Brook; from Thos. 
Heath's side Barr, through Leamore Lane, to Bendy 
Brook, which roads have been usually repaired by the 
inhabitants living within the above liberties. 

And the Justices for the borough and foreign of Wal- 
sall, at their Special Sessions, on the 1st of Nov. 1768, 
ordered that the inhabitants of the above liberties, liable 
to do statute work, shall do two days statute work on 
the 2nd district of the turnpike road, and one day's duty 
or statute work on the Wolverhampton turnpike ioad, 
and the other three days on the bve roads yearly. 



224 



The liberty of Sheffield and Walsall Wood, in the foreign 
of Walsall, surveyed by John Glover and John Hil~ 
dick, 1768. 

From King's Hays to Catsell ; from Stubber's 
Green to the Ford Brook, at Pelsall Common ; from 
the Sheeroaks to Shaver's End Brook ; from the Four 
Crosses to the Cock at Walsall Wood, which roads 
have been usually repaired by the inhabitants of the 
above liberty. 

The Justices for the borough and foreign of Wal- 
sall, at their Special Sessions, on the 1st of Nov. 1768, 
ordered that the inhabitants of the said liberty, liable 
to do statute work, shall do two days statute work on 
the new turnpike road, and the remaining four days to 
do statute work on the bye roads yearly. 

H. W. 



PERAMBULATION.* 



The perambulation of the boundaries of the parish 
of Walsall, containing about ten thousand acres of 
land, is performed in three different directions in 

* The parish was perambulated in the yfars 1779, 1800 and J80I, 
Dinner each year at Mr. Thomas Carless's, White Swau. 

Again 1805, 1806, I807. Dinner at Mr, Wmi Baglcy's, Dragon 
Inn. 



225 

(Hire Jsiye years; — the vicar, (who previously 

reads prayers early in the morning) with the various 
officers of the two townships, perambu'ate the boun- 
daries, and the expense is equally borne by the two 
townships. A dinner is provided on the occasion for 
the officers and the friends whom they choose to 
invite; and the populace who accompany the officers 
are treated with bread, cheese and ale, in some parts 
of the parish, during the perambulation. 



1st PART OF THE PARISH. 

Beginning at Shaver's End Brook, going eastward 
along the said brook next Rushall, to Stubber's Green, 
where it joins the parish of Aldridge; from thence to 
Walsall Wood, Holly Bank, and Stonnall Gate, where 
it joins the parish of Shenstone, to Shire Oaks and 
Catshill, where it joins Ogley Hay; and from Cats- 
hill to Clayanger, and down Clayanger Brook, where 
it joins Little Wyrley and Pelsall, to Shaver's End 
Brook, where the perambulation commenced. 

2nd PART OF THE PARISH. 

Beginning at Butt's Gate, where it joins Rushall to 
Holly Bush Stile, Rye Croft, Cole Pool, leaving the 
parish of Rushall southward, to Gorscott, Clock Mill 
Brook, Little Bloxwich and Fistley, adjoining Pelsall, 
to Hobble-end, and adjoining Little Wyrley,. over 
Essington Wood, the Suead, and down the Snelul 

g & 



226 

Brook, leaving Benttey westward, to Park Brook and 
James Bridge, where it joins the parish of Darlastou. 



3rd PART OF THE PARISH. 

Beginning at James Bridge, by the water course to 
Bescott Bridge, and leaving the parish of Wednesbury 
to the south west, to Shustock Meadow, adjoining 
Great Barr at the Gospel Tree at Wcod End, Hay- 
head and Long Wood, adjoining to Cauldwell's Fields, 
leaving the ' parish of Rushall to the north east, to 
the Butts Gate, where the 2nd day's perambulation 
began. 



CANALS. 



An extension of the Old Birmingham Canal from 
Broad Water terminates at Walsall, and is the means 
of conveyance of merchandize to and from all parts of 
the kingdom ; — and the coal principally used here is 
brought from the pits in the neighbourhood, along 
this canal. 



227 



WYRLEY AND ESSINGTON CANAL 

Passes for a very considerable distance through 
this parish, and within about a mile of the town. 
This canal joins the Birmingham at Wolverhampton, 
and the Birmingham and Fazeley near Lichfield, and 
by this means communicates with the Grand Trunk, 
and most of the principal canals in the kingdom. — 
Large quantities of lime and lime-stone are navigated 
along these canals. 



BURIAL GROUND, 

NEAR WALSALL, 

Was given by the corporation for the use of the 
parish, and contains about two acres of ground, 
walled round, and the entrance at the bottom opposite 
the Vicarage is handsome. There are several neat 
monuments, and the stone of the first person buried 
in this cemetry bears this inscription : — 

William Burn departed this life, August the 8th, 
aged 56, he being the first that was buried here. 



228 
INTERESTING ACCOUNT 

OF THE 

TRIAL 

OF AN 

APPEAL AGAINST A POOR'S HATE, 

WHICH TOOK PLACE 

At the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, held for the 
Borough and Foreign of Walsal/, at the Guild Hall, in 
the Borough of Walsall, the \Oth Day of January, 1813; 
before James Adams, Esq. Mayor, N. G. Clarke, Esq. 
Recorder, Charles Forster and Samuel WiUon, Esqrs, 
Justices of the Peace, for the Borough and Foreign 
of Walsall aforesaid. 



To elucidate the trial of this appeal, which took 
place in consequence of an attempt made by the 
foreign of "Walsall against the borough of Walsall, 
to rate the inhabitants of the borough for such lands 
as they occupied, as resident payers to the borough, 
it will be necessary to state, and particularly for the 
information of the stranger, that- the parish of Walsall 
consists of two townships, which are called the town- 
ship of the borough of Walsall and the township of 
the foreign of Walsall, and that, for time immemorial, 
a usage has prevailed in this parish, to rate all persons 
for what lands they occupied to that township in 
which they resided; so that if a person renting land 
and residing in the borough, and paying the support 



Q29 

of the poor of the borough, removes Inlo the foreign, 
still occupying the same land, he would, in like manner, 
contribute to the support of the poor of the foreign, 
and just so would it be with a person residing and 
o cupying lauds in the foreign removing into the 
borough. 

Here I shall introduce the notice addressed by the 
officers of the foreign, whose names are inserted in 
the late made by them, the names of sixty-four 
residents in the borough rating them to the foreign 
for the lands they occupied, and addressed the fol- 
lowing notice to the 

Overseers of (he Borough of Walsall. 

We hereby give you notice, not to collect or 
interfere in the collection of the poor's rate or 
assessment made on any inhabitant, or occupier of 
lands, houses, tithes, or other property, within or 
rateable to the foreign of Walsall, in the county of 
Stafford, such collection or interference by you, being 
contrary to law. Dated this 30th day of April, One 
Thousand Eight Hundred and Twelve. 

Joseph Harrison, Churchwarden/ 

John Brawn, -i Overseers of the foreign 

John Tiiumins, ) of Walsall. 



To the overseers of the 
Borough of Walsall, 
aforesaid, to each an 
every nf them. 






230 

In consequence of the above, the following w:is 
addressed by the churchwardens and overseers of 
the Borough. 

To the Payers ef Poors Rates, resident in the Borough 
of Walsall, 

Gentlemen, 

In consequence of a notice (of which the above is 
a copy J from the churchwarden and overseers of the 
foreign of Walsall, delivered to the overseers of the 
Borough of Walsall, you are requested, should any 
demand be made by any of the above stated foreign 
officers, for poor rates upon you, as a resident occupier 
in the Borough, to refuse payment of such demand; 
and you are also requested to meet the churchwardens 
and overseers, at the Guild Hall, on Friday next, 
the Sth day of May inst. at eleven o'clock in the 
forenoon, to take into consideration the most effectual 
means of preserving those rights, which the borough 
has exercised for time immemorial. 

C. H. Darwall, 7 

Samuel Sharratt. $ Churchwardens. 

Samuel Fletcher, y 

Joseph Cotterell, J Ooerseers. 

By order of the churchwardens and overseers, 

THOMAS PEARCE, 
Vestry Clerk. 

Walsall Borough, May 2«d, 1812. 



231 

N. R. As the parish of Walsall, contains ten 
thousand acres of land, and the population of the 
respective townships of borough and foreign the 
same, it is presumed, if the inhabitants of the borough 
were to apply to parliament for an act to divide the 
parish, they would, under such act, obtain a share of 
five thousand acres! 



Mr. Wm, Spurrier, of Birmingham, and Mr. C. H. 
Darwall, of Walsall, having been retained as the 
attornies, on behalf of the borough residents rated to 
the foreign, notices of appeal against the rate were 
given by William Foster and R. M. Fletcher, (who 
had been previously summoned before the magistrates 
for their poor rates,) as well as by other persons rated, 
and counsel were retained on both sides, (viz.) Mr. 
Reader and Mr. Pearson for the appellants, and Mr. 
Fuller and Mr. Petittfor the respondents. 

The appeals were respited from time to time to 
suit the convenience of the counsel, till the 10th day 
of January, IS I 3, when William Foster's appeal was 
tried, and lasted nine hours. 

Some time was taken up in a preliminary con- 
versation between the counsel and their application-^ 
respecting the order of proceeding, which was deter- 
mined by the court to be for the leading counsel for 
the respondent to open his case, and the respondent's 
evidence to be examined ; the evidence for the appel- 
lant then to be examined, after which each of the 



232 

appellant's counsel was to address the court, then 
each of the respondent's counsel, and the leading 
counsel for the appellants, to reply. This course was 
accordingly adopted, and Mr. Puller having opened 
the business, proceeded to call his witnesses. 

The first witness called was John Green, the 
clerk of Bloxwich chapel, aged about 32 years, who 
took upon himself to set out a precise and distinct line 
of boundary between the borough and foreign, to 
which part of Bridge-street was thrown into the 
foreign ; — Green stated that he had derived his know- 
ledge of the boundary from conversation with the 
late William Hodgetts, of Bloxwich, although he 
admitted that Hodgetts had never shewn him the 
boundary by going over the ground, nor was any 
thing on the subject ever committed to writing.— 
Green also admitted that he himself had never gone 
(what he called) the boundary till the summer of 1812; 
that he then went according to the verbal information 
he had received from Hodgetts, and for the purpose of 
shewing the boundary as it appeared upon a map or 
plan produced upon the trial by the respondents. 
Several other witnesses were called for the respondents, 
chiefly old men, and though some of them spoke to 
particular parts being considered the boundary, not 
one, except Green, pretended to describe the whole 
of the boundary ; but they in general declared their 
belief that no known line of boundary existed between 
the borough and foreign. Green's evidence, in one 
particular, was expressly contradicted by the evi- 



233 

denre or lUr. Edward Stanley, a witness for the 
eigiij who stated that he remembered the land 
which is now Bridge-street, before the road was made, 
(part of the road being described, by Green, as the 
boundary,) and that when he (Stanley) first knew it, 
there was not any road or line of demarcation in the 
direction described by Green as the boundary. 

On the part of the appellants, several very re- 
spectable witnesses were called, who were unanimous 
in their declarations that there was no known line of 
boundary or division between the borough and 
fore'igh. It was proved that the land in question had 

• i occupied by borough residents, and had uniform- 
ly Maid to the borough as far back as the levy books 
could be produced, winch was for the year Hoi, 
excepting only that Richard Holmes, during three 
months of his occupation of it, resided in the parish 
of Rushall, and for that time he was rated and paid 
to the foreign. 

After hearing the whole of the evidence adduced, 
and the arguments o; the counsel on both sides, the 
court quashed the rate, being of opinion, as the learn- 
id recorder slated, that the respondents had entirely 
failed in their attempt to set a line of boundary 
between the borough and foreign ; and although the 
t considered that the land in question was proved 
tc/be locally situated within the foreign, yet, as they 
iLied th-. errstpm or practice Which had been 
acted upon bey onH living memory of persons pa] 

ii u 



234 

for whatever they occupied to the township in which 
they resided, to have been the agreement or condition 
made on the division of the parish, under the 13th 
and 14th of Charles 2nd, the court held that the 
parties must be bound by that agreement, or revert 
to the provisions of the 43rd Elizabeth, and on these 
grounds the rate was quashed. 

The foregoing rate being quashed, subject to a 
case stated and having been argued in the court of 
King's Bench, the 23rd of June, 1813, and the order 
of Sessions reversed, which has determined the custom 
of rating resident occupiers illegal, as the decision 
goes no further than determining the custom to be 
bad, consequently the locality of lands in the parish 
to either township is yet to be proved. — As soon as 
the case and arguments upon it, together wish. Lord 
Eh'enborough's decision can be obtained from the 
Term Pcports, and also the decisions u.p,o.n sixty-thi 
other appeals yet to be tried, are finished, the wh 
will be accurately published. 



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BINDERY INC. 

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